The Murder of Hae Min Lee
In January 1999, 18-year-old Hae Min Lee disappeared from Woodlawn High School in Baltimore, Maryland. Her body was found six weeks later in Leakin Park. Her ex-boyfriend, Adnan Syed, was arrested and convicted of first-degree murder in 2000. He maintained his innocence throughout his 23-year imprisonment.
The case became the subject of Serial Season 1 (2014), the most downloaded podcast in history, which raised serious questions about the reliability of key witness Jay Wilds' testimony and the cell tower evidence used at trial. The podcast generated worldwide attention and prompted renewed legal examination of the conviction.
In September 2022, a Maryland court vacated Syed's conviction after prosecutors acknowledged they had withheld evidence about two alternative suspects, including Ronald Lee Moore. Following further proceedings, Syed's exoneration was finalised and he was released after 23 years. Hae Min Lee's murder remains officially unsolved.
Podcasts covering this case
The definitive investigation — start here
Anyone interested in journalism, legal procedure, and deep investigative dives into morally ambiguous cases with no easy answers.
Read our review
Deep legal analysis by three attorneys
True crime fans who followed Serial and wanted deeper legal analysis; listeners interested in wrongful convictions, prosecutorial misconduct, and appellate law.
Read our reviewFrequently asked questions
What is the best podcast about Adnan Syed?
Serial Season 1 is the definitive podcast on the Adnan Syed case. It was the first major audio investigation and remains the most comprehensive single account. For deeper legal analysis, Undisclosed covers the case across multiple seasons with forensic attention to the evidence.
Was Adnan Syed exonerated?
Yes. In 2022, a Maryland court vacated Adnan Syed's conviction after prosecutors acknowledged they had withheld exculpatory evidence. Syed was released from prison in September 2022 after 23 years. His legal exoneration was finalised in 2024.
Who killed Hae Min Lee?
The murder of Hae Min Lee is officially unsolved. Adnan Syed's conviction was vacated in 2022. Prosecutors have not charged anyone else. The case remains open.