DECATURVILLE, Tenn. — The three men charged with kidnapping, raping and killing Holly Bobo could be put to death if convicted.
Zach Adams, Dylan Adams and Jason Autry were charged in connection with the Decatur County woman’s death.
She disappeared from her home in 2011, but her remains were only recently discovered in a wooded area last year.
On Wednesday, all three suspects appeared before Judge Creed McGinley.
“I understand that the state this morning filed notice of aggravating circumstances and intend to seek the death penalty as to each of the three defendants,” he announced in court.
Those words made the families of the accused stiffen, but were words the prosecutor, Ray Lepone, said Holly’s family deserved to hear.
“What we did is what we do any homicide. We look at the law,” he said. “We look at the aggravating circumstances of first-degree murder. Therefore, the death penalty is an available option.”
It’s an option, WREG learned, Lepone is familiar with pursuing.
He has tried other death penalty cases in Shelby County.
However, Autry’s attorney, John Herbison, said it should not be an option now.
“This is not a legitimate death penalty case. The jurors in death cases are more prone to convict at the guilt phase.”
He said the state was using it as part of its strategy.
“I strongly suspect the state is trying to shore up a weak case by trying it to a death qualified jury,” he said.
The defendants were all given new indictments as well.
Each was charged with kidnapping, rape, murder and premeditated murder.
While much has changed in the Bobo case over the last year, the support for her family is just as it was on the day she went missing four years ago.
“The community feels like Holly is theirs,” family friend Mary Beth Helms said. “Holly just means a lot to everybody.”
All three suspects will be back in court again on August 26.