Holly Bobo Murder Suspect Pleads Not Guilty

The Tennessee man accused of murdering vanished nursing student Holly Bobo has pleaded not guilty to the charges against him.

29-year-old Zachary Adams appeared on court in Nashville on Tuesday (March 11) to answer the charges for the first time. According to Nashville's WSMV, Adams was shackled at the wrists and wearing a black and tan striped jumpsuit -- along with a bulletproof vest -- during his brief court appearance, which lasted less than five minutes.

When Judge Creed McGinley asked the accused if he understood the charges against him, Adams replied, "Yes, sir."

Bobo disappeared on April 13, 2011, outside of her Darden, Tenn. home, on her way to class at the University of Tennessee Martin. She was last seen walking into the woods with a man dressed in camouflage, at approximately 7:30 in the morning.

Adams was charged with first degree murder and especially aggravated kidnapping in Bobo’s case just days after the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation executed a series of search warrants related to the case. Authorities have not yet revealed what evidence they have discovered that led to his arrest and indictment.

WSMV reports that the TBI conducted further searches near Adams' property on Saturday (March 8). They declined to say what they are searching for.

Adams is set to appear in court again for a status hearing on April 9.

Bobo's family had never stopped hoping that she would be found alive. Her cousin, country singer and 'Survivor' star Whitney Duncan, posted the following statement to Twitter: