Adnan Syed is a free man. He's been in prison since 1999 for the first-degree murder, robbery, kidnapping, and false imprisonment of his girlfriend, Hae Min Lee. He was sentenced to life in prison but has always maintained his innocence.
He was a high school student when he was arrested. But years later, an email to journalist Sarah Koenig prompted her to investigate the case, his whereabouts during the time Lee was murdered, and the incredible series of bizarre events that led to him being terribly represented at trial. She turned that investigation into the first super-popular crime podcast 'Serial' which took the nation by storm in 2014.
Photo: Podcaster Sarah Koenig/Getty Images North America
A judge has now released Syed from jail, where's been for 23 years. Last week, officials asked for a new trial after uncovering information that was withheld from Syed's defense team during the original trial. They said that prosecutors who tried to original case knew of two other potential subjects in the killing of Lee but never revealed that information.
One of those suspects was a serial rapist who was convicted of multiple crimes after Syed's trial.
Prosecutors now have 30 days to decide if they want to proceed with a new trial or drop the charges against Syed.
Syed was released from prison but will be subject to GPS monitoring until a new trial begins or the charges are dropped.
Here's the podcast... which is still an excellent listen.
Or try this other podcast which has nothing to help anyone.