MEMPHIS, Tenn. — A split between the TBI and the district attorney investigating the Holly Bobo case might have affected thousands of other criminal cases. The head of the TBI said Wednesday his agency would no longer work cases in a five-county area after being accused of misconduct, but reversed the decision Thursday.
Before the reversal, the TBI suspended its Holly Bobo investigation and handed over most of its evidence to prosecutors. This meant people who live in Decatur, Benton, Carroll, Hardin and Henry counties might have been slow to see or get justice.
“I did narcotics cases assisting attorney generals throughout the state of Tennessee,” Aaron Chism, a retired TBI investigator, said.
He spent most of his career working cases in rural areas like Brownsville, Hardeman County, and even Benton County, where Matt Stowe is district attorney. He says small sheriff departments and police need the TBI and its resources.
“I don’t know how an area like that can do without a TBI agent. We need someone whose independent who is not local who don’t have any political gain from it. That’s what TBI does,” Chism said.
A burglary case in one of the counties was briefly on hold because the sheriff needs the TBI to process fingerprints.
“We can subpoena phone records we can get them back much quicker. We have our own forensic units that makes the scene,” Chism said.
Chism doesn’t know exactly what happened between Stowe and the TBI but Chism says he can vouch for the integrity of the TBI.
“That’s a sad day. We have a long standing good relationship with the attorney generals throughout the state. Throughout the judicial districts. I don’t know what’s going on up there. I don’t know the issue but I hope it’s gets resolved,” Chism said.
The Henry County sheriff who had those fingerprints on his desk from that burglary case said he hoped the issue was resolved soon, and quickly got his wish. Now it’s back to business as usual and solving cases.
