LOCAL NEWS: Remains found in heavily wooded area has been indentified

News Channel 5 reports:

Authorities said human remains discovered in Decatur County have been identified as missing nursing student Holly Bobo, who disappeared from her home in April 2011.

"TBI has been able to confirm through the findings of an odontologist that the remains are of Holly Bobo," said TBI Director Mark Gwyn.

The skull was discovered Sunday in a remote area on County Corner Road, just off I-40 in the small community of Holladay. It was found lying on top of the ground by two hunters out digging for the herb ginseng.

It was taken to the TBI crime lab in Memphis, where a forensic team used dental records to make the identification. DNA testing will also be done to confirm the findings.

The search will continue for further remains, and the area where the skull was located will remain roped off until thorough searches are conducted.

Bobo had been missing for more than three years. The 20-year-old was last seen the morning of April 13, 2011 at her family’s home in Darden. Her brother Clint told authorities he saw a man wearing camouflage taking her into the woods near their home.

Her body was not found immediately despite extensive searches by law enforcement and volunteers.

"I assure you all this is not over by any means," added Gwyn. "The investigation is still ongoing to get to the truth. It was my prayer and the prayer of many others that Holly Bobo would be found."

District Attorney Mike Stowe spoke with the Bobo family before Monday evening's news conference. He announced the family will make a statement about the recent developments sometime Tuesday afternoon.

Stowe strongly stated that everyone who played a part in the crime will face consequences.

"If today is proof of anything it's that you can delay justice but you can't deny it," Stowe stated.

The discovery of Bobo's remains was less than six miles away from the home of Zach Adams. He is one of two people charged with killing and kidnapping Bobo.

Adams, along with 39-year-old Jason Autry, have pleaded not guilty to charges of aggravated kidnapping and murder in the case.

"We are ready, willing, and able to seek the death penalty in this case. We will be making a decision sometime in the next couple weeks in conjunction with the Bobo family," said Stowe.

“I don’t know that it affects the case against Jason Autry because there’s still no nexus between the event and anything attributed to him," said Autry's attorney Fletcher Long. "But I think it’s a tragedy to discover that she is in fact dead.”

Two half-brothers, Jeffrey Kurt Pearcy and Mark Pearcy, also face charges of tampering with evidence and accessory after the fact in the case.

Investigators will continue to gather evidence and interview people.

Some background on the Holly Bobo case:

• Holly Bobo was 20 years old when she was last seen on April 13, 2011
• Her brother Clint was the last person to see her alive. He told investigators he saw a man in hunting clothes leading the 20-year-old into woods behind family home in Parsons
• Holly was a nursing student at UT Martin
• She was 5'3'" and 110 pounds, and was last seen wearing a pink shirt (her favorite color) and light blue jeans
• Blonde hair, blue eyes
• Thousands of volunteers have spent countless hours looking for her
• Zach Adams was indicted on March 5, 2014 on especially aggravated kidnapping, first degree felony murder charges
• Jason Autry was indicted on felony first degree murder and especially aggravated kidnapping charges on April 29, 2014
• Adam's house is about six miles or 25 minutes to the location where the skull was found on County Corner Road on September 7 by two hunters out looking for the herb ginseng. 
• Adams' property in Decatur County is about 15 miles from Bobo's home.