Karen Bobo (Holly's mother)
Appearances
20/20
What Happened to Holly Bobo?: The Breaking Point
We are those people, we became those people that no one ever wants to be.
20/20
What Happened to Holly Bobo?: The Breaking Point
Closure is sure not a good word. Because in this situation, there's never closure. But I just, I have spoken with many parents. who have never, to this day, still don't have their child's remains. And I truly believe I was at my breaking point. I don't think I could have lived much longer with the not knowing.
20/20
What Happened to Holly Bobo?: Under the Microscope
I know, I knew my children and knew them well. Clint was, he was never a suspect in my mind. That thought never entered my mind.
20/20
What Happened to Holly Bobo?: Under the Microscope
I mean, I just kept in the back of my mind that, you know, the truth is going to come out someday. But watching Clint go through all that was very sad and very hard. And I did stay angry about that a lot because we had lost one child. And in a sense, I felt like I had lost another child because... Somebody was trying to take your other child.
20/20
'Radioactive' - Ep. 1: The Tapes
Okay, now, talking to Karen Silkwood, and today is Monday, October 7th. All right, now, what about this getting to these kids joking about getting hot?
20/20
What Happened to Holly Bobo?: A Scream on Swan Johnson Road
I said, that's not Drew. Get a gun and shoot him. And Clint said, you want me to shoot Drew? And I think that's when I hung up and called 911. You know, when things like this happen, everybody's like, oh, I would have done this, I would have done that. The truth is, you don't know what you would do or say. So I never got the words out.
20/20
What Happened to Holly Bobo?: A Scream on Swan Johnson Road
I've talked to Drew on the phone because I am in a full-fledged panic by then.
20/20
What Happened to Holly Bobo?: A Scream on Swan Johnson Road
No, I was just trying to get someone over to the house.
20/20
What Happened to Holly Bobo?: A Scream on Swan Johnson Road
And I collapsed to the floor, and everybody trying to say, it's okay, Karen, this is all just a mistake. But see, they didn't know what I knew that morning. Which was? Drew was not in our house. It couldn't be Drew. And that the neighbor had heard a scream. No one in that office knew that.
20/20
What Happened to Holly Bobo?: A Scream on Swan Johnson Road
Somebody has my daughter. They have kidnapped her. Please get there now. They're on their way.
20/20
What Happened to Holly Bobo?: A Scream on Swan Johnson Road
Somebody has my daughter. They have kidnapped her.
20/20
What Happened to Holly Bobo?: A Scream on Swan Johnson Road
I'm trying to take her the fastest route. So I'm up on the window, you know, saying, hang a right, hang a left. I don't know how fast we were going, but fast.
20/20
What Happened to Holly Bobo?: A Scream on Swan Johnson Road
When I get there, I don't remember what order everything went in. Ran through the woods, calling her name, and then more people come up.
20/20
What Happened to Holly Bobo?: A Scream on Swan Johnson Road
I did, because I kept asking them to put out an Amber Alert, and they're like, we can't. And I did not know the stipulations for an Amber Alert.
20/20
What Happened to Holly Bobo?: A Scream on Swan Johnson Road
So I do remember when a TBI agent got there, I ran straight to him and told him she was 17.
20/20
What Happened to Holly Bobo?: A Scream on Swan Johnson Road
It was like our whole life became an open book and we were just, everything just totally changed.
20/20
What Happened to Holly Bobo?: A Scream on Swan Johnson Road
Holly was an absolute joy from the day she was born. It just seemed like there was something special about her. She was always kind to people and appreciated the small things in life.
20/20
What Happened to Holly Bobo?: A Scream on Swan Johnson Road
I taught plant in the sixth grade and I had Holly in the fourth grade.
20/20
What Happened to Holly Bobo?: A Scream on Swan Johnson Road
Yeah. Well, Holly was the perfect student. Always wanted to get her work finished and had everything ready ahead of time. Clint, I had to tap on his desk just about every day. And then when we'd get in the car, he'd say, why are you always tapping on my desk and no one else's? And I said, because everybody else is paying attention.
20/20
What Happened to Holly Bobo?: A Scream on Swan Johnson Road
If something went wrong, she would always call me. We shared a bond that she would sometimes look at me and say, that's scary because we could finish each other's sentences. You were always that close? Always that close. From the time she was born? Pretty much from the time she was born. We enjoyed doing the same things. Like what? Riding horses, listening to the radio.
20/20
What Happened to Holly Bobo?: A Scream on Swan Johnson Road
She said, well, that's silly for us both to drive. You could just ride with me. It's kind of a joke around school, like carrying your rides here.
20/20
What Happened to Holly Bobo?: A Scream on Swan Johnson Road
You know, we even talked about, could they live close to us and things like that.
20/20
What Happened to Holly Bobo?: A Scream on Swan Johnson Road
She was sitting up against the wall on her bed and had her books in her hands, and she said that she'd been up since about 4.30, studying for the test.
20/20
What Happened to Holly Bobo?: A Scream on Swan Johnson Road
So that morning I got her muffins out of the refrigerator, put them on a plate and stuck them in the microwave. She was sitting at the kitchen table studying and I kissed her goodbye and told her I loved her just like every other morning.
20/20
What Happened to Holly Bobo?: A Scream on Swan Johnson Road
She didn't want to alarm me, but the neighbor had called and thought they heard screams coming from the house.
20/20
What Happened to Holly Bobo?: Fourteen Days
If you like what the jury does, that's fine. Keep it to yourself. This isn't a time to cheer like we do for a football team or something. If you don't like what the jury said, keep that to yourself. For each count, the judge read the jury's verdict.
20/20
What Happened to Holly Bobo?: Fourteen Days
Nummer eins. Ist das Ihr Verhältnis? Ja. Nummer zwei. Ja.
20/20
What Happened to Holly Bobo?: Fourteen Days
I've had to watch my parents in their what's supposed to be called golden years be so sad every day. Not a morning since this has happened. Have we not woken up with Holly being the first thing on our mind when we wake up and the last thing on our mind when we go to sleep. Last night I saw my husband smile for the first time in six and a half years.
20/20
What Happened to Holly Bobo?: Fourteen Days
that this decision that was made this morning had absolutely nothing to do with that animal it had to do with the future of our family if there can ever be any more joy in our family to maybe give us an opportunity to find at least a little joy
20/20
What Happened to Holly Bobo?: Fourteen Days
I know that my daughter fought and fought hard for her life. Can you back up just a little bit so he can look at me? And I know that she begged for her life because my daughter loved and enjoyed life. But you... Wenn Karen Bobo left the stand, the judge thanked the jury and dismissed them. Zack Adams' case was over.
20/20
What Happened to Holly Bobo?: Fourteen Days
I want everyone to remain with me while the jury files out, please.
What Happened to Holly Bobo?
The Breaking Point
We are those people, we became those people that no one ever wants to be.
What Happened to Holly Bobo?
The Breaking Point
Closure is sure not a good word. Because in this situation, there's never closure. But I just, I have spoken with many parents. who have never, to this day, still don't have their child's remains. And I truly believe I was at my breaking point. I don't think I could have lived much longer with the not knowing.
What Happened to Holly Bobo?
Lion in a Cage
At that point in time, everybody was still a suspect, but their names just kept on coming up over and over again.
What Happened to Holly Bobo?
Lion in a Cage
Until your child is found or you know what happened to them, I don't think anyone could ever do enough in a parent's eyes. I often said, I guess I would have fought Goliath. You know, I just had no fear. I was trying to find my daughter. All that fear leaves you when you're looking for your child.
What Happened to Holly Bobo?
Lion in a Cage
I mean, he was just rambling on different things. He was, I don't know, I kind of describe it as... A lion in a cage. But the other thing he said was he could call someone and make it look like it was coming from my number.
What Happened to Holly Bobo?
Under the Microscope
I know, I knew my children and knew them well. Clint was, he was never a suspect in my mind. That thought never entered my mind.
What Happened to Holly Bobo?
Under the Microscope
I mean, I just kept in the back of my mind that, you know, the truth is going to come out someday. But watching Clint go through all that was very sad and very hard. And I did stay angry about that a lot because we had lost one child. And in a sense, I felt like I had lost another child because... Somebody was trying to take your other child. Yes.
What Happened to Holly Bobo?
A Scream on Swan Johnson Road
I've talked to Drew on the phone because I am in a full-fledged panic by then.
What Happened to Holly Bobo?
A Scream on Swan Johnson Road
No, I was just trying to get someone over to the house.
What Happened to Holly Bobo?
A Scream on Swan Johnson Road
And I collapsed to the floor and everybody trying to say, it's okay, Karen, this is all just a mistake. But see, they didn't know what I knew that morning. Which was? Drew was not in our house. It couldn't be Drew. And that the neighbor had heard a scream. No one in that office knew that.
What Happened to Holly Bobo?
A Scream on Swan Johnson Road
Somebody has my daughter. They have kidnapped her.
What Happened to Holly Bobo?
A Scream on Swan Johnson Road
I'm trying to take her the fastest route, so I'm up on the window, you know, saying, hang a right, hang a left. I don't know how fast we were going, but fast.
What Happened to Holly Bobo?
A Scream on Swan Johnson Road
When I get there, I don't remember what order everything went in. Ran through the woods, calling her name, and then more people come up.
What Happened to Holly Bobo?
A Scream on Swan Johnson Road
I did, because I kept asking them to put out an Amber Alert, and they're like, we can't. And I did not know the stipulations for an Amber Alert.
What Happened to Holly Bobo?
A Scream on Swan Johnson Road
So I do remember when a TBI agent got there, I ran straight to him and told him she was 17.
What Happened to Holly Bobo?
A Scream on Swan Johnson Road
It was like our whole life became an open book and we were just, everything just totally changed.
What Happened to Holly Bobo?
A Scream on Swan Johnson Road
Polly was an absolute joy from the day she was born. It just seemed like there was something special about her. She was always kind to people and appreciated the small things in life.
What Happened to Holly Bobo?
A Scream on Swan Johnson Road
I taught plant in the sixth grade and I had Holly in the fourth grade. What was that like? Well, Holly was the perfect student. Always wanted to get her work finished and had everything ready ahead of time. Clint, I had to tap on his desk just about every day. And then when we'd get in the car, he'd say, why are you always tapping on my desk and no one else's?
What Happened to Holly Bobo?
A Scream on Swan Johnson Road
And I said, because everybody else is paying attention.
What Happened to Holly Bobo?
A Scream on Swan Johnson Road
If something went wrong, she would always call me. We shared a bond that she would sometimes look at me and say, that's scary because we could finish each other's sentences. You were always that close? Always that close. From the time she was born? Pretty much from the time she was born. We enjoyed doing the same things. Like what? Riding horses, listening to the radio.
What Happened to Holly Bobo?
A Scream on Swan Johnson Road
She said, well, that's silly for us both to drive. You could just ride with me. It's kind of a joke around school, like carrying your rides here.
What Happened to Holly Bobo?
A Scream on Swan Johnson Road
you know, even talked about, could they live close to us and things like that.
What Happened to Holly Bobo?
A Scream on Swan Johnson Road
She was sitting up against the wall on her bed and had her books in her hands, and she said that she'd been up since about 4.30, studying for the test.
What Happened to Holly Bobo?
A Scream on Swan Johnson Road
So that morning I got her muffins out of the refrigerator, put them on a plate and stuck them in the microwave. She was sitting at the kitchen table studying and I kissed her goodbye and told her I loved her just like every other morning.
What Happened to Holly Bobo?
A Scream on Swan Johnson Road
She didn't want to alarm me, but the neighbor had called and thought they heard screams coming from the house.
What Happened to Holly Bobo?
A Scream on Swan Johnson Road
Somebody has my daughter. They have kidnapped her. Please get there now. They're on their way.
What Happened to Holly Bobo?
A Scream on Swan Johnson Road
I said, that's not Drew. Get a gun and shoot him. And Clint said, you want me to shoot Drew? And I think that's when I hung up and called 911. You know, when things like this happen, everybody's like, oh, I would have done this, I would have done that. The truth is, you don't know what you would do or say. So I never got the words out.
What Happened to Holly Bobo?
Fourteen Days
I've had to watch my parents in their what's supposed to be called golden years be so sad every day. Not a morning since this has happened have we not woken up with Holly being the first thing on our mind when we wake up and the last thing on our mind when we go to sleep. Last night, I saw my husband smile for the first time in six and a half years.
What Happened to Holly Bobo?
Fourteen Days
First of all, I would like for you to know that this decision that was made this morning had absolutely nothing to do with that animal. It had to do with the future of our family. If there can ever be any more joy in our family, to maybe give us an opportunity to find at least a little joy
What Happened to Holly Bobo?
Fourteen Days
But I would like for Mr. Adams to look at me when I speak to him. know that my daughter fought and fought hard for her life can you back up just a little bit so I can he can look at me and I know that she begged for her life because my daughter loved and enjoyed life but you are chose to take that from her.
What Happened to Holly Bobo?
Fourteen Days
And you have shown absolutely, look at me please, you have shown absolutely no remorse for anything that you have done.