Day 4: Cross-examination continues in Adams post-conviction hearing
HARDIN COUNTY, Tenn. — We take you inside the court room for the final day of the Adams post-conviction hearing in connection with the Holly Bobo case.
PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Day 4: Tensions run high as retired TBI agent is questioned in Adams hearing
Tension stirred in the court room Thursday as a former TBI investigator took the stand.
After many inconsistent statements offered by key witnesses in the Adams hearing, the court is asking three important questions: Where the body was located, the murder weapon used, and ultimately, the one responsible for such heinous acts.
Former Shelby County D.A. General Amy Weirich questioned former TBI investigator, Brent Booth, about the certainty of his ruling throughout the Holly Bobo case.
“Did you ever hesitate to take Zach Adams, Dylan Adams, and Jason Autry into the grand jury?” asked Weirich.
“No, I don’t think I was the one that I presented it to the grand jury. I think it was maybe agent Walker, but I wouldn’t have hesitated,” Booth responded.
Zachary Adams is appealing his conviction with the hopes of being granted a new trial after his co-defendant, Jason Autry, confessed to lying on the stand in 2024 at the time of the trial.
Weirich says she recalls the words of Zach Adams bragging to everyone that would listen about what he had done to Holly Bobo at the time the incident occurred.
“Was anybody else in town running around saying ‘No body, no gun, no crime?’ Besides Zach Adams? Was anybody else saying that?” asked Weirich.
“That’s the only person we’ve heard that from,” Booth responded.
“Before anybody knew she was shot, correct?” Weirich asked.
“That’s right. They’re right,” Booth responded.
During the defense’s cross-examination, Attorney Doug Bates follows up with Autry’s statement of how he created the story about a gun from an incident that involved a previously looked at suspect, Terry Britt.
Booth says there was no probable cause to indict or charge Britt. Bates revisits the unusual behavior of Britt’s wife in the height of the Holly Bobo investigation.
“You remember in your investigation that Janet took off?” asked Bates.
“Yeah,” Booth said.
“Does that make since to you? Someone who works at the newspaper on one of the most important news day ever in Decatur County took that day off?” said Bates.
“It’s unusual,” said Booth.
“Right, it doesn’t make sense,” said Bates.
Following Thursday’s testimony, the hearing proceedings are in recess and are expected to reconvene at a later date. The next subpoenaed witness to be brought to the stand is former FBI Agent Arthur Viveros.
Judge Brent Bradberry is looking to decide a time convenient with all the attorneys to attempt to bring in more proof in this case.
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