by Phil Williams
Chief Investigative Reporter
NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- So who is Zachary Rye Adams?
NewsChannel 5 Investigates has uncovered shocking new details about Holly Bobo's alleged killer.
It turns out, Adams has a history of violent assaults against women, including his own mother.
While the 29-year-old unemployed Decatur County man has claimed that he's "not the one," the search of Adams' property over the weekend revealed some potentially tantalizing clues -- including a PT Cruiser apparently riddled with bullet holes.
And court records paint a dark portrait of a troubled man with a history of violence against women.
In 2004, Adams even shot his own mother in the knee at point-blank range with a 9-millimeter handgun.
At the time, Zach Adams was just 19.
In a petition for an order of protection, Adams' stepfather wrote, "We are in fear of our lives," adding that Adams "is a danger to us and the community."
Then three months after Holly Bobo disappeared in 2011, Adams was in trouble again for assaulting another young woman.
Rebecca Earp claimed in court documents that Adams assaulted her "by gripping my neck and pushing me to the floor."
As she tried to get away, Adams "was threatening to shoot me so I turned back around," she said.
That's when "Adams pushed me against the truck and got me on the ground and started hitting me again."
Later, as she sat on the front porch of the house that was just searched, Earp claimed, "When I didn't look at him, he would squeeze my head till I would look at him in the eyes. Then, he would punch me across the porch."
She added, "Adams stated that he would shoot me just like he did his mom."
A month later, investigators went back to the farm to arrest Adams and saw signs that the convicted felon was in the possession of weapons and ammunition.
According to a request for a search warrant, investigators said there were "several targets and items that had apparent bullet holes."
"A black-and-white dog walked up and it had a bleeding wound on its side."
Adams' grandfather said "Zach had shot the dog from the porch."
And just this week, Adams was back in court for the alleged assault last month of Amber Bray.
According to court documents, Adams caused Bray to fear for her safety "by holding a black revolver to her head and threatening to kill her."
"He also pulled a knife on her while threatening to 'gut' her."
After Adams shot his mother in 2004, he pleaded guilty to aggravated assault and was sentenced to six months in jail, although the order says he would be allowed to do that time in rehab.
In the second case, he was allowed to plead guilty to a misdemeanor assault charge. He was sentenced to 120 days in jail, again getting credit for time in rehab.
The case involving the third woman is still pending.
Adams' Facebook page also shows that he's a fan of the 2008 film Taken, which is about the abduction of a young woman.
He's also a fan of the novel, The Turner Diaries, which is a favorite among the anti-government, white separatist crowd -- although we don't know anything about his personal beliefs.
E-mail: pwilliams@newschannel5.com
Tell Us What You Think!
On Facebook:
NewsChannel 5 Investigates
On Twitter:
@NC5Investigates
