Bobo murder suspects could face death if convicted
DECATURVILLE, Tenn. — A prosecutor said Wednesday that the state will seek the death penalty for three men charged with the 2011 murder of nursing student Holly Bobo if they are convicted.
Suspects Jason Autry, Zachary Adams and his brother John Dylan Adams appeared in Decatur County Circuit Court on Wednesday morning to be arraigned on additional charges. All three were charged in revised indictments last month with eight counts each of premeditated murder and murder for the kidnapping and rape of Bobo.
The new indictments replace previous indictments that charged Autry and Zachary Adams with murder and kidnapping and John Dylan Adams with rape. All of the men have pleaded not guilty.
"There appear to be aggravating circumstances (for the death penalty)," special prosecutor Jennifer Nichols said in court Wednesday.
According to court documents, the prosecution is seeking the death penalty for all three defendants because "the murder was especially heinous, atrocious or cruel in that it involved torture or serious physical abuse beyond that necessary to produce death;" because it was committed by the suspects for the purpose of "avoiding, interfering with, or preventing a lawful arrest or prosecution;" and because the murder was "knowingly committed, solicited, directed or aided" by the defendants while each defendant had a substantial role in the murder, kidnapping and/or rape.
Don Franks, a local pastor who acts as a spokesman for the Bobo family, said Wednesday "was a giant step on the road to justice for Holly."
Bobo was 20 when she was reported missing from her home in Parsons in rural West Tennessee in April 2011. Her disappearance and the subsequent lengthy search attracted national attention. Authorities say her skull was found in the woods in Decatur County in September.
Matt Maddox, attorney for John Dylan Adams, said he was surprised at the timing of the filings to seek the death penalty, but he added that he preferred receiving the notices "sooner rather than later."
Nichols said the filings were made at the earliest opportunity after the new indictment was issued.
Autry has a prior felony conviction that involved the use of violence, according to court documents, which add to the circumstances for seeking the death penalty.
Motions in the case are scheduled to be heard again on Aug. 26. Autry is seeking to have his charges dismissed.
Defense attorneys have complained that they have not received evidence against their clients from prosecutors. Judge C. Creed McGinley stated in court that prosecutors will give the evidence to the defense within 30 days.
McGinley said the decision to seek the death penalty will affect the pace of the case as it moves toward a trial.
"I'm not going to be able to move at breakneck speed as I had hoped," McGinley said.
Contributing: Associated Press