Holly Bobo Case: New developments, key witness admits to lying at trial
HARDIN COUNTY, Tenn. — New details in the Holly Bobo case arise as a key witness confesses to lying on the stand.
Zachary Adams (left), Holly Bobo (Center), Jason Autry (Right)
Seven years ago, justice came for a West Tennessee family when a man was convicted and sentenced to life without the possibility of parole – plus 50 years – for the murder, kidnapping and rape of their daughter.
Holly Bobo disappeared from her home in 2011.
She was last seen by her brother who said he saw her walk into the woods with a man in camouflage. She was never seen again.
Zachary Adams was convicted on all counts despite no physical evidence linking him to the crime.
The conviction of Adams was based solely on the testimony of co-defendant Jason Autry.
In a petition filed recently in Hardin County Circuit Court by Adam’s appellate lawyer, it says Autry confessed that he lied, making up the whole story in his jail cell in discussions with his attorney about the best way to avoid spending the rest of his life in prison.
Autry admitted to using cell phone data that was provided in discovery to create the story.
Autry states he recreated it the day Bobo went missing and “added Holly to it.”
The petition also states he acknowledged it was all to get him out of jail as guided by his attorney.
It goes on to state at one point Autry says, “We put it together in three days.”
Autry also explains how details of his story came about and how he created the story about a gun from an incident that involved a previously looked at suspect named Terry Britt.
All of this means the case could be reopened and Adams could be released as a free man.
A court date has not been set for Adams and it is unknown whether he will receive a new trial.
Autry is expected to be sentenced on February 20 for weapons charges that are unrelated to this case.
Read the amended petition for post conviction relief here.
Read the petition for write of error here.
Find more news out of Hardin County here.
