Hae Min Lee was last seen alive on 15 January 2025 — four weeks before the 18-year-old’s body was found in Baltimore’s Leakin Park. Her ex-boyfriend Adnan Syed was later sentenced to life in prison for her murder, though his guilt remains in question to this day.
True law-breaking has always had a sizeable share of fans , but the genre ’s New pop - culture resurgence arguably began with Sarah Koenig’sSerialpodcast in 2014 , which explored the strong belief of Adnan Syed for the baffling slaying of Hae Min Lee in Baltimore , Maryland in 1999 .
HBOHae Min Lee was just 18 days quondam when she was found strangled in Baltimore ’s infamous “ execution ballpark . ”
Koenig , a formerBaltimore Sunreporter , spent one year investigating the 2000 trial of a Woodlawn High School student named Adnan Syed , who was recover guilty of slay his ex-wife - girlfriend Hae Min Lee the twelvemonth prior . Last get wind driving forth from the mellow school in her grizzly Nissan on January 13 , 1999 , the 18 - year - honest-to-goodness Lee was launch deadened in Baltimore ’s Leakin Park about a month later . And before long after that , Syed was charged with her murder .
HBOHae Min Lee was just 18 years old when she was found strangled in Baltimore’s infamous “murder park.”
Serialsought to dive deeply into the potential failing of the criminal Justice Department arrangement and thoroughly re - essay Syed ’s sheath . The podcast soon became a phenomenon , racked up over 40 million downloads in 2014 alone , stayed at the top of the iTunes podcast charts for week , won a Peabody Award , and opened room access to the opening of a new trial for Adnan Syed .
The podcast was so popular , at least in part , because the case against Adnan Syed in the murder of Hae Min Lee was controversial . For example , no physical evidence tie him to the crime setting . And for Syed ’s part , he maintained his naturalness throughout the initial halt , the course of his trial , and Koenig ’s entire probe and subsequent podcast dismissal .
The evidence that was meet against Syed was anecdotic , circumstantial , and yet , convincing enough to sway a jury to convict him of the execution of Hae Min Lee . That evidence included Syed ’s protagonist , Jay Wilds , claiming that Syed asked him for aid in burying the body as well as cellphone tower records that seemed to grade Syed at the stain where Lee ’s consistence was get .
HBOA rare photo of Adnan Syed and Hae Min Lee together.
But there ’s much more to discover about this complex whodunit . Here ’s everything you need to know about the execution of Hae Min Lee — and where the showcase stands today .
Inside The Brutal Murder Of Hae Min Lee
On February 12 , 1999,The Baltimore Sunreportedthat a partly buried body find in Leakin Park earlier that week was the overleap 18 - year - old Woodlawn High scholar Hae Min Lee .
HBOA rarified picture of Adnan Syed and Hae Min Lee together .
At that point , the Korean American teen had been miss for almost an intact month and official had yet to assess how exactly she croak , but they did mistrust homicide . Lee was last seen alive on the afternoon of January 13 , 1999 , when she drove her Nissan aside from schoolhouse to pick up her six - class - old full cousin and straits to work at a local LensCrafters .
RedditThe area of Leakin Park where Hae Min Lee’s body was discovered.
“ We thought she would come back , ” her uncle Tae Soo Kim order .
Tragically , she never did . They only found her body . Signs of choking shortly became apparent , and that , combined with the locating of her body ( which had been left in a democratic dumping ground for homicide victim ) , steer to the cause of her death being execution .
RedditThe orbit of Leakin Park where Hae Min Lee ’s body was find .
SerialA photo of Adnan Syed, taken sometime before the murder of Hae Min Lee. Circa 1998-1999.
Hae Min Lee ’s category gather at their home on Rockridge Road upon receive the official confirmation that she had perish . The 18 - year - old , who was born in Korea but emigrated with her female parent and brother at the age of 12 , was mourned and call up lovingly by her congenator and friends that day .
Lee ’s father was n’t present , as he was against emigrating to the United States and had decided to remain in Korea . He fundamentally cut off all striking with the eternal rest of his syndicate , with no record of how he receive the news .
Meanwhile , Woodlawn High ’s star , James Wilson , remembered Lee as “ a very ardent type of person , well - care by all the student . ”
The InterceptJay Wilds refused to participate in theSerialpodcast, but agreed to be interviewed byThe Interceptin 2014. In the interview, he said that he lied to the police because he was afraid of Adnan Syed getting him in trouble for drug dealing.
During her time as a student at Woodlawn , Lee was a prize fellow member of the lacrosse and field hockey game teams as well as the managing director of the wrestling team . Her problem at LensCrafters , too , was no simple filler just to pass the prison term — Lee had dreams of becoming an lens maker someday .
How Adnan Syed Got Charged With Lee’s Murder
SerialA photo of Adnan Syed , have sometime before the murder of Hae Min Lee . Circa 1998 - 1999 .
The Baltimore police force follow a bright lead story : Adnan Syed was allegedly a jilted lover with a likely motivation to remove Hae Min Lee .
As such , policefiled an applicationto subpoena ad testificandum AT&T Wireless for call records and “ 13 cell situation locations ” for Syed ’s phone . This would give them a WWW of practical data regarding call made — to whom , for how long , and from where — to represent out Syed ’s placement on the daytime of the slaying . Two of Syed ’s acquaintances , Jay Wilds and Jennifer Pusateri , were also questioned .
HBOA mugshot of Adnan Syed, shortly after he was arrested for Hae Min Lee’s murder in 1999.
Pusateri told investigator that she had experience a call from Wilds on the day of Lee ’s disappearance , January 13 , 1999 , from Syed ’s phone . Wilds ab initio denied having anything to do with the state of affairs , but later made a bombshell claim to police : He had help Syed bury Lee ’s organic structure and get free of her motorcar .
Some argue that the supposed confession is wildly inconsistent with old versions of Wilds ’ business relationship regarding the series of events that twenty-four hours . When first call into question , Wilds say he went to McDonald ’s that good afternoon — which changed to a sojourn to his supporter ’s house during the 2d audience .
The InterceptJay Wilds refuse to participate in theSerialpodcast , but agreed to be question byThe Interceptin 2014 . In the interview , he sound out that he dwell to the police because he was afraid of Adnan Syed get him in trouble for drug dealing .
PinterestHae Min Lee, pictured with two of her friends from Woodlawn High.
Additionally , the interviews with Wilds — originally put out by theSerial - inspired podcastUndisclosed : The State vs. Adnan Syed — reveal legion extended pauses and an odd tapping sound at several junctures of his relation of the daylight ’s events that evoke potential coercion by investigators . It is during these taps that Wilds seems to remember a primal detail , correct a statement , or even rationalise to those in the room .
“ There ’s a ‘ tap tap , ’ and then Jay says , ‘ Ooh , okay , ' ” enunciate Susan Simpson , an associate at a Washington , D.C. police firm who participated in the podcast . “ And all of a sudden a moment by and by — he cognise the response . ”
Of of course , these likely miscarriages of justice in the slaying of Hae Min Lee would only be uncovered years afterward .
Wikimedia CommonsJournalist Sarah Koenig, who took another look at Adnan Syed’s story withSerialin 2014.
Adnan Syed was pick up on February 28 , 1999 , and officially charge with the first - degree slaying of Hae Min Lee .
The Tumultuous Trial Of Adnan Syed
HBOA mugshot of Adnan Syed , shortly after he was catch for Hae Min Lee ’s murder in 1999 .
Adnan Syed ’s menage turned to defense attorney Maria Cristina Gutierrez to represent him — and it was percipient that there would be problems with her almost immediately . According to Episode 10 ofSerial , when jurors overheard the presiding evaluator call Gutierrez a “ prevaricator ” during a verbal dispute at his bench , he declared a mistrial on December 15 , 1999 .
Still , Syed ’s home stick with Gutierrez , relying on her secure reputation in past cases , and the second trial set about in January 2000 . The motor hotel records from that trial show that Syed confirm to police that he and Lee had go out in 1998 and that they had kept it secret from their parent .
Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic for HBO/Getty ImagesRabia Chaudry speaks duringThe Case Against Adnan Syedpanel in Pasadena, California on 16 December 2024.
As a Pakistani American and a Korean American , Adnan Syed and Hae Min Lee apparently fear negative reaction from their families due to multiple spiritual and cultural differences . Their rent in December 1998 was only complicated further when Syed incur out that Lee had begin dating another immature man , Don Clinedinst .
“ Solely because of hurt pridefulness , he choose to kill , ” said Assistant State ’s Attorney Kevin Urick of Syed . “ There is nothing here to excuse or explain . ”
Some ascertain the details about the recent breakup and the new boyfriend very funny . But others , like Rabia Chaudry — a childhood friend of Syed ’s , the author ofAdnan ’s narrative : The lookup for Truth and Justice After Serial , and the cohost ofUndisclosed — believed that Syed ’s confession of these details was mere money plant about the facts of his romanticistic life sentence to those stress to encounter Lee ’s killer and not a regardless divine revelation of his motive .
Wikimedia CommonsWoodlawn High School in Gwynn Oak, Maryland, where Hae Min Lee was last seen alive.
PinterestHae Min Lee , pictured with two of her friends from Woodlawn High .
“ Adnan was just clueless , ” said Chaudry . “ He was helping the law investigation . He had no approximation that he was under suspicion . ”
Nonetheless , the jury apparently believed the “ weakened pride ” motif . Lee ’s personal diary , which was used as grounds in the cause , likely play a purpose in the conclusion as well . In the journal , Lee specifically cite Syed ’s “ possessiveness ” and frames him as being unable to allow go of her .
Wikimedia CommonsMaria Cristina Gutierrez had a reputation as a strong defense attorney — until she represented Adnan Syed. It was later revealed that she was struggling with health issues during the trial, and she died just a few years later.
And on February 25 , 2000 , Syed wasconvictedof the slaying of Hae Min Lee . He was soon sentenced to liveliness in prison house plus 30 years .
The transactions take on six weeks , but the jury ’s deliberation only take two hour . “ I ’ll be all right , ” Adnan Syed said after his sentencing . “ I have faith in the Lord . I cognise I did n’t kill her . The Lord knows I did n’t stamp out her . ”
Syed ’s attorney Charles H. Dorsey III ( who replaced Gutierrez after the conviction ) , pleaded with Judge Wanda K. Heard to trim the sentence because , according to him , Lee ’s murder was “ a criminal offense of passionateness . ”
HBOAn old photo of Adnan Syed from when he was on the football team.
It did n’t help his case that Dorsey also conceded that Syed “ made a bad decision . ” Still , Syed immediately addressed Heard to reaffirm his posture .
“ I have asseverate my innocence from the origin , ” he said .
The trial saw Lee ’s female parent , Youn Wha Kim , redeem a heartwrenching testimony through an interpreter . She explain that her hardships in emigrating from Korea were necessary to render her family with a full lifespan , and to give her children a “ decorous education and a decent futurity . ”
Karl Merton Ferron/Baltimore Sun/TNS via Getty ImagesAdnan Syed after a day of hearings for a retrial in Baltimore. 8 January 2025.
“ I would care to forgive Adnan Syed , but as of now , I just do n’t know how I could , ” she enjoin . “ When I die , my girl will expire with me . As long as I live , my girl is buried in my heart . ”
She nigh collapsed when she leave the stand , and she finally had to be escorted outside . The pain would ramp on for years , but at least the case of the murder of Hae Min Lee appeared to be close .
Did Adnan Syed Kill Hae Min Lee?
Wikimedia CommonsJournalist Sarah Koenig , who took another look at Adnan Syed ’s story withSerialin 2014 .
One of Rabia Chaudry ’s averment in her rule book is that Syed ’s trial was flawed because of how dim authorities were by his Muslim trust .
“ They were n’t capable to find evidence that Adnan was a violent beau or that he had a account of being opprobrious , so they had to stop up in his faith as a substitute , ” she said . “ They had to demonise an intact biotic community by arguing that because Adnan is Muslim , he had the potential difference to do this . ”
But in price of genuine evidence , Syed found the grounds to get a new trial only after Koenig talk to Asia McClain , a former schoolmate of Syed ’s — who claimed that she assure him at the Woodlawn library around the prison term of the slaying . And yet , Gutierrez did not let in her in Syed ’s denial at trial .
However , when McClain later testified to this at a sworn deposition and at a hearing in the face , Syed was granted a post - conviction hearing in February 2016 that would research this potentially enormous unreasoning dapple in the original defence team ’s strategy and witness roll . antecedently , Syed had utilise for an appeal in 2003 , but this had fail to result in a newfangled trial .
Jeff Kravitz / FilmMagic for HBO / Getty ImagesRabia Chaudry speak duringThe Case Against Adnan Syedpanel in Pasadena , California on February 8 , 2019 .
Syed ’s Modern attorney argued that his original counsel , Gutierrez and Dorsey , had absolutely failed to include McClain ’s testimonial as an excuse spectator — which would ’ve placed Syed mile aside from the scene of the crime — and thereby could ’ve affected the total outcome of the tribulation .
Chief Judge Patrick L. Woodward , in backing of ordering a raw tryout for Syed , wrote that it was logical to assume that McClain ’s testimonial would ’ve advance “ reasonable doubt in the mind of at least one juryman , ” and needed to be find out .
Even retired Judge Martin Welch — who denied Syed ’s 2003 request for a new tribulation — ended up vacating his conviction and order a new trial . Welch also append that some outstanding questions about the cell tug evidence should ’ve been grow by Syed ’s original United States Department of Defense .
For Chaudry , news that Adnan Syed would finally get another shot at DoJ was staggering — if incredible — news .
“ I finger the most overpowering relief imaginable , ” she said . “ I was sob and hysterical . It took me the remainder of the mean solar day to become rational . We ’d worked for this for so long , and I was terrified this was our last chance . If the judge had ruled differently , there would have been nothing else we could do . ”
New Clues About The Murder Of Hae Min Lee
Wikimedia CommonsWoodlawn High School in Gwynn Oak , Maryland , where Hae Min Lee was last go out live .
While Chaudry appreciated theSerialpodcast , she also felt that there was more to search — especially as Syed ’s example was in public reexamined .
“ Sarah and her squad make something amazing and beautiful and compelling , ” said Chaudry . “ The podcast brought Adnan ’s instance to get off . Without it , he would never have gotten a novel test . We can never thank her enough . But the history thatSerialtells is uncompleted . Sarah and her team were not investigators . There are thing they either omit or did n’t look at or entrust out of the podcast . ”
For instance , Asia McClain ’s testimonial that she had reckon Syed at the library until 2:40 p.m. intelligibly contradicted statements by Lee ’s cobalt - coach on the wrestling team that Syed had been speak with Lee until almost 3 p.m. about joining her at a wrestle match that even . But theUndisclosedpodcast also discovered that there was no grappling mate that night and that either the conscientious objector - managing director or McClain had been mistaken , or worse , lied .
to boot , inconsistencies with Hae Min Lee ’s autopsy composition and the court opinion guarantee a closer look : The State tell Syed killed her by 2:36 p.m. and place her soundbox in the trunk of her car , only to slay her about four to five hour later so as to entomb her at 7 p.m.
The job here is that rigor mortis would ’ve part lay in within that timeframe , yet the autopsy reportsaid that lividity“was present and restore on the anterior surface of the physical structure , except in the surface area exposed to pressing . ”
legion medical experts intimate with the written report toldUndisclosedthat Lee ’s lividity suggested that she was positioned face down , stretched out before long after her destruction , and then her trunk stay in that billet for at least eight to 12 hr before her partial burial in Leakin Park .
But perhaps most substantial for Syed ’s defense was the matter of the cellphone tower record . Gutierrez failed to understand that the data AT&T was subpoena for was only accurate for specific purposes — even though the covering plane for that very data made that dead clean-cut .
Wikimedia CommonsMaria Cristina Gutierrez had a repute as a firm defense attorney — until she symbolize Adnan Syed . It was later reveal that she was struggling with wellness issues during the trial , and she died just a few years by and by .
“ forthcoming calls only are true for positioning status , ” the cover shroud read . “ Any incoming shout will NOT be take dependable info for location . ”
That would mean that the two most important phone calls for the prosecution — which allegedly placed Syed at the scene at 7:09 p.m. and 7:16 p.m. — were attributed to him in forged religion . They were incoming calls , which signify their positioning was n’t attributable to Leakin Park .
According to Syed ’s current attorney , C. Justin Brown , the cover sail that excuse this vastly significant info was admit in Gutierrez ’s single file at the time , but she “ simply failed to act on it . ”
Furthermore , there ’s the thing of the reliability of Jay Wilds ’ testimony , given his discrepant claims , the numeral of clock time that his story change , and the possible compulsion on the part of investigators .
Undisclosedargued that Wilds was lancinate on snag the $ 3,075 reward money for any information that led authorities to the arrest of the person who killed Lee . The theory is that Wilds desire to buy a motorcycle — a title substantiate during a ride - along Wilds involve with Detectives William Ritz and Gregory MacGillivary on March 18 , 1999 .
The misstep was think to have Wilds show the detectives where he helped Syed entomb Lee ’s body , yet the notes include irrelevant details , such as info specific to a Suzuki bike with 9,000 miles on it belonging to a Mr. Karl Brown , and the word “ REWARD ” write in all capital letter of the alphabet .
As it turned out , Brown was Wilds ’ soccer charabanc and had no link to Hae Min Lee or Adnan Syed . He had plainly been stress to sell his Suzuki RRF600 — for an count on resale value of roughly $ 3,000 .
Where The Case Against Adnan Syed Stands Today
HBOAn old photo of Adnan Syed from when he was on the football squad .
Many valid theories have emerged regarding who killed Lee and what precisely occurred that daytime in Leakin Park — particularly since million of citizenry on a regular basis tuned in toSerialandUndisclosed .
Some believe that both Syed and Wilds committed the turn , and then the latter turned on the former . However , others guess Syed was attempting to frame Wilds for the death , but Wilds managed to get to the bureau first . Another theory — the one that landed Syed in prison house — is that he simply kill his ex - girlfriend because he could n’t handle her moving on .
One of the biggest ground why Wilds ’ name is so often bring up in connection with the case is because he extend the pig to Lee ’s elevator car . Many ca n’t consider that Wilds would know where the railcar was if he was n’t affect . And since Wilds had no apparent motive to drink down Lee on his own , Syed ’s name is intertwine with his . However , some have also floated the theory that cop knew where the car was and simply coach Wilds as they approached it .
According to the court transcript from Syed ’s trial run , Syed allegedly called Wilds “ pathetic ” as he approach the witness stand . This childlike , off - the - cuff remark led many to question Syed ’s word selection : If he was going to affront Wilds , why would n’t he call him a “ liar ” or something to that result ?
Meanwhile , a few who stick with this caseful have raised questions about Lee ’s novel boyfriend , Don Clinedinst , whoexpressed romantic interestin one of her friend while she was still missing . Though Clinedinst did have an alibi that he was at employment , it was later discovered that the manager of the depot he was working at was his female parent . Additionally , authorization failed to question Clinedinst ’s coworkers to confirm that he was indeed working that day .
Karl Merton Ferron / Baltimore Sun / TNS via Getty ImagesAdnan Syed after a twenty-four hour period of hearings for a retrial in Baltimore . February 3 , 2016 .
Yet others have wonder whether the stranger who in the beginning find her physical structure in the woods was actually the one responsible . On that fateful mean solar day , Alonzo Sellers — aka “ Mr. S. ” — aver that he was drink and driving near Leakin Park when he realized that he had to urinate .
So he walked into the park , which is where he happened upon Lee ’s dead body — 127 human foot away from his car . While authorities were initially suspicious of how far he walked out , he was assoil after he passed a polygraph trial . It was set that he had simply walked the farseeing distance for privacy .
But even though many hypothesis have been floated in recent long time , the state of Maryland has decided to stick with its original decision for now . Despite the 2016 announcement that Syed would get a raw trial — and the popularity ofSerialand the HBO documentaryThe showcase Against Adnan Syed — the Maryland Court of Appeals ultimately denied him a raw trial in 2018 .
And in 2019 , Syed was dealt yet another setback when the Supreme Court rejected his appeal . Still , Chaudry and the rest of Syed ’s loved 1 are n’t giving up . They ’re doing whatever they can to get him a new trial .
As for Lee ’s family , they stand by the original verdict . In 2016 , they released this financial statement : “ We thank the land for standing up for us and keep to seek judge . We believe justice was done when Adnan was convicted in 2000 , and we look forward to bring in this chapter to an end so we can lionise the store of Hae instead of observe the man who killed her . ”
At the end of the day , Adnan Syed is the only person who knows for sure whether he killed Hae Min Lee or not . And it ’s indecipherable how his foresightful history with the criminal jurist system will settle itself . But for now , Syed continue in prison house , and that ’s unlikely to modify anytime before long .
After reading about Adnan Syed and the murder of Hae Min Lee , learnhow a podcast helped work out the murder of stunner queen Tara Grinstead . Then , show aboutMichael Peterson and the murder mystery behind ‘ The Staircase . ’
