Police: Remains are those of missing Tennessee nursing student Holly Bobo

The partial remains of Tennessee nursing student Holly Bobo have been found in Tennessee more than three years after her disappearance from the driveway of her rural home, officials said on Monday.

The remains, which included a skull, were found in a Decatur County wood, not far from her home in the town of Parsons, about 110 miles east of Memphis, Tennessee Bureau of Investigation Director Mark Gwyn told a news conference.

Bobo was 20 when she disappeared in April, 2011. Her brother told police that he saw a man dressed in camouflage leading her away into the woods. Investigators and volunteers scoured the woods and fields of the town of about 2,400 for clues, but her remains were not found.

New break: Police in Tennessee used DNA tests to determine the human remains belonged to the 20-year-old

Bobo had been preparing to go to class at nursing school on the moing of her disappearance.

TBI Director Mark Gwyn confirmed the positive identification during a press conference late on Monday night.

Suspect: Jason Wayne Autry has been charged with the kidnap and murder of Holly Bobo

'It was my prayer as well the prayers of many others that Holly Bobo would be found,' Gwyn said.

'And I assure you this is not over by any means. The investigation is still ongoing to get to the truth.'

Gwyn has said the Bobo investigation has been the most expensive and exhaustive in TBI history, and it's not over yet.

Since Bobo disappeared, the small town of Parsons and surrounding areas in West Tennessee tried to support the family, putting up pink ribbons on lamp posts, mailboxes and storefronts. Bobo was wearing a pink shirt and carrying a pink purse before she disappeared.

Two men found a skull Sunday not far from property owned by the family of Zachary Adams, who has been charged with Bobo's kidnapping and murder. He has pleaded not guilty. The area near his family's property was searched in March. 

A second man facing murder and kidnapping charges, Jason Autry, also has pleaded not guilty.

Recently elected District Attoey Matt Stowe said his office was preparing to seek a possible death penalty in the case. A decision is expected in coming weeks, after he consults with the Bobo family, he said.

'The evidence is voluminous,' Stowe said. 'We are going to make sure that everyone who played a part in the heinous crime that has attacked the peace and dignity of the state of Tennessee faces a consequence for that.'

Stowe said the Bobo family would be issuing a statement Tuesday.

Before the news conference Monday, the Bobo family was trying to remain calm and let authorities do their job, said their attoey, Steve Farese.

'You can imagine the emotional roller coaster that they've been on,' Farese said.

 

Heartbroken: Holly's mom Karen Bobo is led into court by attoey Steve Farase in March, when Adams was charged with her murder and kidnap

In May, brothers Jeffrey Pearcy and Mark Pearcy were both charged with accessory after the fact and tampering with evidence. Like Autry and Adams, they have pleaded not guilty.

Jeffrey Pearcy allegedly showed a friend cell phone footage of Bobo tied up and crying before her murder.

The friend, Sandra King, testified at a preliminary hearing in May that she saw Zachary Adams in the footage.

Revelations: Witness Sandra King testified at a preliminary hearing in July that she saw missing student Holly Bobo tied up and crying in cell phone footage shown to her by Jeffrey Pearcy

Mrs King also claimed that Jeffrey Pearcy told her that his brother Mark had filmed the incident.

'I seen a woman that was tied up that was crying,' King told the court, WMC reported.

'She was blonde... It looked like Holly Bobo.'

King said it appeared the blonde in the video was about to be sexually assaulted, but she did not see.

'I knew what he was fixing to do. I did not want to see,' King said.

The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation has not seen the video.

Jeffrey Pearcy has denied the video exists and agents are now trying to find out if it is on his cell phone.

'I have no video. I have not seen a video, never even heard of the video until I was questioned about it the day of my arrest,' Pearcy said in June.

King worked with police to try and have Pearcey acknowledge the video in a phone call.

'I said to him, "You know that video of Holly, if it would have been you in that video, I would have watched it," and he said, 'Yes I know', King said.

Both men have pleaded not guilty.

Adams was indicted in March on charges of especially aggravated kidnapping and first-degree murder.

Autry,was indicted in April on first-degree murder and especially aggravated kidnapping charges.

TBI director Mark Gwyn previously said the agency has swo statements from witnesses who claim to have seen Bobo alive with Autry and Adams after she had been reported missing.

Gwynn added that they also had physical evidence being analyzed at two crime laboratories, and several witnesses.

'We believe other individuals have knowledge, and possibly others have involvement,' Mr Gwyn told News Channel 5.

'They can expect us to be on their doorsteps very soon.'

He added: 'This is a case the TBI has been continuously working hard to solve now for three years. It has not been easy but I do know truth will prevail.' 

'Anyone who had anything to do with Holly's disappearance will be brought to justice,' he added.