The state has agreed to sentence Zach Adams to life without parole plus 50 years in the death, rape and abduction of Holly Bobo.
SAVANNAH, Tenn. — The state has agreed to sentence Zach Adams to life without parole plus 50 years in the death, rape and abduction of Holly Bobo.
The agreement was made between Adams’ defense attorneys and the prosecution Saturday morning before the decision of whether to sentence Adams to life or give him the death penalty was expected to go before the jury.
Still, after the judge and attorneys announced agreement to the charges, prosecutor Jennifer Nichols called Bobo’s mother Karen Bobo to the stand to give her final words in a victim impact statement.
«First of all, I would like for you all to know this decision had absolutely nothing to do with that animal,» Karen Bobo said. «It had to do with the future of our family.»
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Karen Bobo talked about her daughter as a young woman who loved life and serving other and someone who took joy in simple things.
«She was the sweetest soul I have ever known in my life,» Karen Bobo said. «A sweetness and kindness that many people can’t imagine. I can see the love.»
Finally, Karen Bobo looked over at Adams and demanded that he look her in the eyes.
«I know that my daughter fought and fought hard for her life,» she said. «And I know that she begged for her life because my daughter loved and enjoyed her life, but you chose to take that from her and you have shown absolutely no remorse for anything that you have done.»
Karen Bobo thanked the jury for bringing the family justice.
Shortly before 5 p.m. Friday, a jury returned eight guilty verdicts — two for felony first-degree murder, one for first-degree premeditated murder, three for aggravated rape, and two for especially aggravated kidnapping.
Adams now faces the death penalty, which in Tennessee, means lethal injection.
Saturday morning, the jury will begin to hear «mitigating factors,» or reasons why Adams should not receive the death penalty, and «aggravating factors,» the reasons why prosecutors say he should be sentenced to die.
