NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Will a trial date finally be set in the high-profile Holly Bobo case? There has been word of more delays and the slow-moving exchange of evidence.
For months now Jason Autry has been locked up at the Riverbend Maximum Security prison.
His co-defendant Zach Adams and his brother Dylan have been behind bars elsewhere, and they shouldn't expect to be going anywhere, especially trial, anytime soon.
All three have been charged with the murder of Holly Bobo.
A much-anticipated hearing was scheduled for next week where a trial date could have finally been set, but Newschannel 5 has learned the judge canceled it.
“No trial date will be set for some time,” said John Herbison, Autry’s attorney.
Herbison said the case became more complex when prosecutors decided to seek the death penalty.
New lawyers have been hired who need to get up to speed, and there's the issue of discovery evidence: reams and reams of documents, video and audio to review.
Herbison said he still hasn't seen the results of forensic testing that may or may not link Autry to the crime.
“We're still waiting for that,” Herbison said. “I'm still baffled as to how Jason Autry came to be charged in this case.”
As things stand now, it may be at least six months before a trial date is set.
And when it is, Herbison said there's a good chance the defense will ask for a change of venue away from Decatur County.
“This is something we are considering carefully,” Herbison said. “Something where the local populous is inflamed to put it mildly.”
But it's still far too early to talk about a trial. Autry has been at Riverbend now for over a year, and he could be here for another year before ever facing a judge and jury.
Indications have been one reason the judge canceled next week's hearing was because defense attorneys have been so busy going through all of the discovery evidence they haven't file any new motions.
