Holly Bobo's Family Speaks Out After Zach Adams Convicted Of Murder

The family of Holly Bobo thanked God Friday after Zach Adams was convicted of the rape, kidnapping and murder of the 20-year-old. The Bobo family gathered with their pastor, Don Franks, after the verdict was read.

“She’s waiting on the other side,” said Franks.

“Hallelujah,” the family responded.

Holly, then a nursing student, went missing in 2011 from her family’s Tennessee home. Her remains were not found until three years later. Adams was charged with her kidnapping, rape and murder, but continuous delays in the trial meant it didn’t reach the courtroom until just this month when the prosecution finally took the stand to make their case against Adams.

Adams, 33, was convicted Friday after a grueling 11-day trial. A deal enabled him to avoid the death penalty: He would instead serve life in prison plus 50 years. Holly’s mother, Karen Bobo, hugged prosecutor Jennifer Nichols, while Holly’s father, Dana Bobo, hugged Tennessee Bureau of Investigation Director Mark Gwyn. Karen Bobo turned to the jury to speak to them after the verdict was announced.

“I want to thank you,” she said. “Each and every one of you, for making the right decision.”

Karen Bobo also addressed Adams in a heartbreaking victim impact statement, repeatedly asking him to look at her as she spoke.

“I know that my daughter fought hard for her life,” she said. “And you chose to take that from her and you have absolutely, look at me please, you have shown absolutely no remorse for anything that you have done.”

Karen Bobo went on to share her memories of her daughter, remembering her as “the sweetest soul I’ve ever known.”

“Not a morning since this has happened have we not woken up with Holly being the first thing on our mind when we wake up and the last thing on our mind when we go to sleep,” she said. “I didn’t only lose my daughter. I lost my best friend.”

Holly’s boyfriend, Drew Scott, posted a statement on Facebook following the completion of the trial.

“For almost seven years, our life has been filled with so much worry, dread, sadness and hurt over unanswered questions,” he wrote. “In the last two weeks, those questions have been answered, but one remains. Why? We will never understand that question, never know an answer and will never have an answer acceptable. Today, justice was served for our precious Holly and we know she is rejoicing. We will continue to miss and hurt for Holly forever.”