ABC News Correspondent

He was wearing a gray suit and a blue tie. It didn't fit him very well because, well, it wasn't his suit. His defense attorney, Jennifer Thompson, found out he didn't have any formal clothes to wear to the trial, so she lent him her husband's suit. When the prosecutor was done reading the indictment, the judge turned to Zach and asked how he was pleading.

He was wearing a gray suit and a blue tie. It didn't fit him very well because, well, it wasn't his suit. His defense attorney, Jennifer Thompson, found out he didn't have any formal clothes to wear to the trial, so she lent him her husband's suit. When the prosecutor was done reading the indictment, the judge turned to Zach and asked how he was pleading.

Zach stood up and said one of the only things he would say during the entire trial.

Zach stood up and said one of the only things he would say during the entire trial.

And from there, the judge ordered the trial, a trial that the community had waited years for, to begin. The prosecution gave their opening statement first. Paul Hagerman spoke in a very soft, quiet voice, almost a whisper, and kept his message simple.

And from there, the judge ordered the trial, a trial that the community had waited years for, to begin. The prosecution gave their opening statement first. Paul Hagerman spoke in a very soft, quiet voice, almost a whisper, and kept his message simple.

Hagerman kept repeating those three sentences about what Zach was accused of. It became almost like a chant, a steady drumbeat driving home just how horrific the case was.

Hagerman kept repeating those three sentences about what Zach was accused of. It became almost like a chant, a steady drumbeat driving home just how horrific the case was.

Hagerman emphasized the contrast between Holly, safe in the home she grew up in, and Zach, who Hagerman said lived in the world of meth, then morphine.

Hagerman emphasized the contrast between Holly, safe in the home she grew up in, and Zach, who Hagerman said lived in the world of meth, then morphine.

And then Hagerman outlined how the twists and turns of the investigation brought everyone to the courtroom, hearing a case against Zack Adams. He mentioned how investigators looked into convicted sex offender Terry Britt and cleared him when they did not find evidence tying him to Holly's kidnapping, rape, and murder.

And then Hagerman outlined how the twists and turns of the investigation brought everyone to the courtroom, hearing a case against Zack Adams. He mentioned how investigators looked into convicted sex offender Terry Britt and cleared him when they did not find evidence tying him to Holly's kidnapping, rape, and murder.

Hagerman explained that investigators then circled back to four names that had been early leads in the investigation. Zach Adams, Dylan Adams, Shane Austin, and Jason Autry. Hagerman teased the account of their star witness, Jason Autry.

Hagerman explained that investigators then circled back to four names that had been early leads in the investigation. Zach Adams, Dylan Adams, Shane Austin, and Jason Autry. Hagerman teased the account of their star witness, Jason Autry.

and then tried to explain why there was no physical evidence that Zach Adams had murdered Holly.

and then tried to explain why there was no physical evidence that Zach Adams had murdered Holly.

After Hagerman's opening statement, he sat down. Zach's lawyer, Jennifer Thompson, got up and walked across the courtroom to the jury box. If Hagerman leaned into the dramatic, emotional details of the case, Thompson tried to give the jury more context. So members of the jury... She described how sprawling the investigation into Holly's death was and how much information there was to sort through.

After Hagerman's opening statement, he sat down. Zach's lawyer, Jennifer Thompson, got up and walked across the courtroom to the jury box. If Hagerman leaned into the dramatic, emotional details of the case, Thompson tried to give the jury more context. So members of the jury... She described how sprawling the investigation into Holly's death was and how much information there was to sort through.

Thompson talked about how many people were interviewed by investigators in the case and ticked through some of the people they focused on as potential suspects. She said this was the most expensive and exhaustive investigation in the history of the state of Tennessee, but that heading into 2013, investigators didn't have anybody they could point to as the culprit.

Thompson talked about how many people were interviewed by investigators in the case and ticked through some of the people they focused on as potential suspects. She said this was the most expensive and exhaustive investigation in the history of the state of Tennessee, but that heading into 2013, investigators didn't have anybody they could point to as the culprit.