What Happened to Holly Bobo?: The Breaking Point

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20/20 41 min 14 speakers 8 chapters transcribed
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What happened during the ginseng hunting season?

Advertisement Narrator 1:06
It typically only grows on the shady side of a hill, and it blends right in with other plants like poison ivy and Virginia creeper. But if you can spot ginseng in the wild, you can make a small fortune. And that's why Larry Stone was foraging along Interstate 40 in Decatur County, Tennessee in September 2014. It was the first week of ginseng hunting season, and this was one of his usual routes. Here he is in court a few years later, recounting that day, showing the courtroom where he was on a map near the highway. He's a big guy, outdoorsy and tough looking, with short hair and a salt and pepper goatee.
Larry Stone 1:54
That Sunday morning, the 7th, we parked right here, just cabled right here. I got out of the truck, got my water, got my little panty pack, whatever you want to call it, and took off right down through here.
Advertisement Narrator 2:14
Larry brought his cousin with him that day. They went down for a ways before Larry turned back around to get something from his car. On his way back, he spotted a ginseng plant and then another one.
Larry Stone 2:28
But then something caught my eye.
Advertisement Narrator 2:37
It was a three gallon water bucket.
Larry Stone 2:40
So I walk over to the bucket. I picked it up, but then a feeling come over me. Just something just told me, turn around. And I'm sitting here thinking the whole time in my head, why is a three gallon bucket sitting here upside down in the woods? So I went with my instinct when the feeling hit me, said turn around. And then that's when I found what I have.
Advertisement Narrator 3:10
Larry tried to yell for his cousin, who was about 300 yards away.
Larry Stone 3:15
Because at first, I couldn't get nothing out of my mouth. I was so stunned. And I finally got his name out of my mouth. I said, Timmy, get up here now. And he's like, what? And I said, I found remains. And he said, no, you didn't. You're lying. And I said, get up here now. I'm being serious now. Get up here. I just started bawling. So finally he come up there and I looked at him. I said, please tell me that's one of the things they use in school. It's not real. And he kind of looked at it and he said, it's real. Well, what specifically did you find? The skull. And then that's when I looked at him. I said, you know who this could be, right? And he looked back at me. He said, who do you think it is? So that's when I said, I think this is Ollie.
Advertisement Narrator 4:28
After almost three and a half years, the remains of Holly Bobo have been found right off the interstate near a giant cell tower. Larry and his cousin called 911. Agents with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation showed up shortly after. What they found was a few bones, including several human ribs and teeth, as well as a skull. Forensic examiners saw evidence of animals scavenging the remains, but they were able to determine a cause of death. Gunshot wound to the right side of the back of the head. Along with the human remains, they also found an earring, chapstick, and a purse. After comparing the teeth that were found with Holly's dental records, they told the Bobo family that they'd found her remains.
Advertisement Narrator 5:30
Then they broke the news to the public. The Jackson Sun newspaper was there to cover it.
Agent Terry Dykus (TBI) 5:37
TBI has been able to confirm through the findings of an odontologist that the remains are of Holly Bobo. TBI agents and the Decatur County Sheriff's Department have continued to work tirelessly over three years to thoroughly follow leads and bring those responsible to justice.

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