UPDATE Friday, Sept. 22, 2017:
Zach Adams has been found guilty of first degree murder in perpetuation of kidnapping, especially aggravated kidnapping, aggravated rape using a deadly weapon, and premeditated murder.
Holly Bobo was a 20-year-old nursing student. She was last seen on April 13, 2011 at her home in Darden, in Decatur County. Massive searches failed to turn up any trace of her. Bobo’s brother said he saw her being led into the woods by a man wearing camouflage.
Her skull was found three years later, in September 2014, in northern Decatur County.
The trial was held in Hardin County in an effort to find jurors who didn't already have an opinion on the case.
TBI Director Mark Gwyn issued the following statement in regards to the guilty verdicts Friday afternoon:
"Since the start of this investigation, our priority has been to pursue justice for the family and friends of Holly Bobo. Today, though we are gratified by the jury's verdict, our thoughts remain with them.
We pursued this case as we do all others; to the best of our abilities. I am proud of the dedicated work of our Agents and Forensic Scientists, and thank the prosecution team for their tireless efforts in this case.
We hope today's verdict brings a small sense of closure to those who loved Holly Bobo and stand prepared to assist prosecutors in the trials of the additional defendants in this case."
ORIGINAL STORY:
After six years of questions and delays and a week of shocking and emotional testimony, jurors are now deciding if Zach Adams is guilty of kidnapping, raping and murdering nursing student Holly Bobo in 2011.
Jurors resumed their deliberations at 8:30 a.m. Friday. The jury worked for almost three hours on Thursday.
The jury is working to decide if Zach Adams is guilty in the 2011 murder of the nursing student. Adams is one of three people charged in the case.
Judge C. Creed McGinley said the jury will work until 6 p.m. each day unless they are close to a decision, which means they can continue working.
Prosecutor Paul Hagerman started off the state's closing argument just after 10 a.m. Thursday by reiterating the horrible things they say happened to Bobo the day she was taken and was never seen again.
Bobo's father put his arm around his wife as they listened to the state's closing argument.
Slowly and deliberately, Hagerman took jurors back through the day Bobo vanished.
He claims Shayne Austin took Bobo and that all four suspects raped her before Adams and Jason Autry killed her and got rid of her body.
Hagerman then reminded the jury about the many people who corroborated the horrific story, saying Adams confessed to two different people.
Hagerman told the jury that it's time to do what is right and that the time is now.
Prosecutors reminded the jury that while investigators first suspected convicted rapist Terry Britt, they ultimately found nothing linking him to the crimes.
The state then took a huge jab at the TBI and, in particular, the case manager at the time, Terry Dicus, saying they should have known who took Bobo in the first few weeks, but they messed up instead.
The defense began delivering their closing argument just after 11 a.m. They claim Adams is "100 percent innocent" and are accusing prosecutors of having no evidence.
Adams' attorney says the state's story is full of lies and the suspects don't match the descriptions.
She claims the state's star witness, co-defendant Jason Autry, testified to avoid the death penalty later.
"Autry sold his death penalty to the state and the only price he had to pay was this tall tale," the attorney said.
After the defense finishes and prosecutors give their rebuttal argument, it's up to the jurors to consider nine days of gut-wrenching and conflicting testimony and try to unanimously agree on a verdict.
The defense ended closing arguments around 1 p.m. Thursday.
The state reminded jurors that at least two witnesses testified that Adams admitted his guilt.
Adams is charged with first-degree murder, especially aggravated kidnapping and aggravated rape.
The first-degree murder charge makes this a capital case, meaning the death penalty is on the table. If Adams is convicted of murder, sentencing will begin right away.
No one can anticipate how long it will take for the jury to make their decision.