Immunity dispute in Holly Bobo case headed to criminal court

DECATURVILLE, Tenn. - A chancery court judge has ruled that she does not have jurisdiction to preside over a dispute about an immunity agreement in the case of Holly Bobo, a Tennessee nursing student who disappeared three years ago.

Decatur County Chancery Court Judge Carma D. McGee decided Tuesday that only a criminal court can decide whether prosecutors can revoke an immunity agreement reached with Shayne Austin.

A March 6 agreement granted Austin immunity from various charges, including "all charges arising out of the disposal, destruction, burial, and/or concealment of Bobo's deceased body."

Bobo's body had not been found.

Prosecutors later revoked the agreement, saying Austin wasn't truthful with them. Austin's lawyer then sued in chancery court for breach of contract.

Bobo was 20 when she disappeared from her family's home near Parsons in April 2011.

The case went cold until two men, 39-year-old Jason Autry and 29-year-old Zachary Adams, were charged this year with murder and kidnapping in the case. They have both pleaded not guilty.