Bobo trial delayed once more, gets moved

DECATURVILLE - Holly Bobo’s family knew another delay was possible, pushing them further into six years since their 20-year-old daughter went missing, but they didn’t expect it to happen again, family pastor Don Franks said.

A trial for Zachary Adams in the disappearance and death of Holly Bobo, originally set for April 3, has been pushed back, again. Adams is now scheduled for trial July 10, a date set aside for co-defendant Jason Autry, whose attorneys have told Judge C. Creed McGinley they will not need a trial date.

“Holly’s family has been determined to seek justice for their daughter. We’re in it for whatever length of time it takes,” Franks said Wednesday. “They got something of a hint of it, but they didn’t realize; it hit them hard today.”

McGinley noted during court Wednesday that he has said multiple times in past hearings the trial date would not be reset, but said attorneys pointed out that the April trial date could reach through the Good Friday and Easter holidays.

The trial date could also have included the sixth anniversary of the day Holly Bobo went missing.

“I don’t know that I’ve ever had a case where, if I said we’re going to trial on a certain date, that I’ve been forced to change the court’s position,” McGinley said. “I think if the court does not grant a motion of continuance, there would be an extremely high risk of potentially reversible error and the necessity to have to try this case again.” Jury selection will begin on April 6. McGinley said the motion to push the trial back from the original date was filed by Adams’ attorney and has been sealed by the court clerk.

“There are matters of significant sensitivity in the motion, and I have directed the clerk to put the motion under seal,” McGinley said.

McGinley also ruled on a motion to move the case out of Decatur County, filed last year. McGinley previously said he intended to move the case to Hardin County so families would not be driving too far from their Decatur County homes for the trials.

On Wednesday morning, McGinley officially moved the case and all its files to Hardin County, where he said jurors will be sequestered throughout the trial.

Franks said the Bobo family will continue to seek justice for their daughter, no matter how long it takes.

“We’d like to get it behind us and get it over with, but they’re strong. They have the prayerful support of the community,” Franks said. “We’re going to see justice served here.”