News Coverage about the Adnan Syed Case #

Related Pages #

This page contains news coverage of the original crime and, as the case has continued, relevant reports from traditional news media. There was also plenty of coverage of Serial Podcast itself, analysis of the phenomenon, and broader reactions, which we have collected on a dedicated page. We also have another page for TV shows, radio, books, plus podcasts and other non-traditional media where entire episodes, or more, were dedicated to the case.

Adnan’s attorney C Justin Brown has been posting updates when there are developments in the case.

Crime Coverage and First/Second Trial #

Who Was Hae Min Lee? ABC News (Baltimore) Video Collection, ABC2 has been rebranded as WMAR-TV

Snow panic starts with a few TV flakes, Kevin Cowherd, Baltimore Sun, 1/14/99

In Baltimore County, information sought on woman missing . . . Staff Reports, Baltimore Sun, 2/4/99

Body found in park is missing woman, 18, Peter Hermann and Young Chang, Baltimore Sun, 2/12/99

Ex-boyfriend is charged in teen’s killing, Amy Oakes, Baltimore Sun, 3/1/99

Slain teen is remembered as ‘joyful, full of love,’ Jay Apperson, Baltimore Sun, 3/12/99

Jury finds teen guilty of killing ex-girlfriend, Caitlin Francke, Baltimore Sun, 2/26/00

19-year-old gets life sentence for killing former girlfriend, Caitlin Francke, Baltimore Sun, 6/7/00

Interviews with Witnesses #

Former teammate remembers Hae Min Lee, Kathryn Twigg Arrildt, Lax Magazine, 12/18/14

Hae Min Lee’s Lacrosse Story, Matt White, Lax Magazine, 12/19/14

Exclusive: Jay, Key witness from ‘Serial’ tells his story for the first time, Part 1, Natasha Vargas-Cooper, The Intercept, 12/29/14 [Jay Wilds interview]

Jay Speaks Part 2: ‘Hae was dead before she got to my house. Anything that makes Adnan innocent doesn’t involve me’, Natasha Vargas-Cooper, The Intercept, 12/30/14 [Jay Wilds interview]

Jay Speaks Part 3: The collateral damage of an extremely popular podcast about murder, Natasha Vargas-Cooper, The Intercept, 12/31/14 [Jay Wilds interview]

Exclusive: Prosecutor in ‘Serial’ case goes on the record, Natasha Vargas-Cooper & Ken Silverstein, The Intercept, 1/7/15 [Kevin Urick interview]

Exclusive: Serial prosecutor defends guilty verdict in Adnan Syed case, Natasha Vargas-Cooper & Ken Silverstein, The Intercept, 1/4/15 [Kevin Urick interview]

[See the Serial Podcast page for discussions and responses to The Intercept interviews]

Exclusive: Potential alibi witness for convicted murderer in ‘Serial’ breaks silence with new affidavit, Madeleine Morgenstern, The Blaze, 1/20/15 [Asia McClain]

‘Serial’ prosecutor blows off interview: Is he hiding something? Seema Iyer, The Dean’s Report, 2/2/15 [Kevin Urick]

Serial exclusive: The teachers of Woodlawn speak out, Peter DeCandia, The Observer, 2/15/15

Asia McClain speaks out about ‘Serial’s’ Adnan Syed, ABC News, 2/10/16

Retired Baltimore surveyor traces steps of ‘Serial’ murder investigation, Colin Campbell, Baltimore Sun, 2/29/2016 [Philip Buddemeyer]

Surveyor Philip Buddemeyer revisits ‘Serial’ case, Kevin Richardson, Baltimore Sun, 2/29/16 (video interview with Buddemeyer on site in Leakin Park)

Also check out season 1 of the Truth and Justice podcast, which includes interviews with Krista Myers, Laura E S, Neighbor Boy and a number of other podcasts and TV shows which featured interviews with people from this case.

Post-Conviction Hearing (February 2016) #

‘Serial’ subject Adnan Syed has day in court, makes case for new trial, Justin Fenton, Baltimore Sun, 2/3/16

Adnan Syed’s post-conviction hearing day 1: Asia McClain finally takes the stand, Amelia McDonell-Parry, The Frisky, 2/3/16

Adnan Syed returns to court Wednesday, friends and family maintain his innocence, Christian Schaffer, ABC2 News WMAR Baltimore, 2/3/16

Adnan Syed to argue his innocence at hearing to consider new evidence, Baynard Woods, The Guardian, 2/3/16

Woman tells Adnan Syed hearing she was dissuaded from providing him with potential alibi, Baynard Woods, The Guardian, 2/3/16

Testimony turns away from alibi witness to cellphone tower data in Adnan Syed hearing, Justin Fenton, Baltimore Sun, 2/4/16

Adnan Syed’s post-conviction hearing day 2 (part 1): Asia McClain finishes testifying, Amelia McDonell-Parry, The Frisky, 2/4/16

Adnan Syed’s post-conviction hearing day 2 (part 2): Expert Gerald R. Grant Jr. eviscerates the State’s cell site evidence, Amelia McDonell-Parry, The Frisky, 2/4/16

Adnan Syed appears in court for post-conviction hearing, Christian Schaffer, ABC2 News WMAR Baltimore, 2/4/16

Lawyers question how witness knew case details at Adnan Syed hearing, Baynard Woods, The Guardian, 2/4/16

Adnan Syed hearing: Legal expert says failure to call alibi witness ‘changed the ballgame’s result,’ Justin Fenton, Baltimore Sun, 2/5/16

Adnan Syed’s post-conviction hearing day 3 (part 1): Expert says Asia McClain’s alibi testimony would have been a ‘game changer,’ Amelia McDonell-Parry, The Frisky, 2/5/16

Potential alibi witness cross-examined in Adnan Syed case, Christian Schaffer, ABC2 News WMAR Baltimore, 2/5/16

Experts say there’s a strong argument for a new trial for Adnan Syed, Christian Schaffer, ABC2 News WMAR Baltimore, 2/5/16

Adnan Syed hearing extended as lawyers spar over cellphone records, Baynard Woods, The Guardian, 2/5/16

Adnan Syed’s post-conviction hearing day 3 (part 2): The State’s fancy FBI cell expert totally goofs, Amelia McDonell-Parry, The Frisky, 2/6/16

Hae Min Lee’s family says Syed hearings have ‘reopened wounds few can imagine’, Justin Fenton, Baltimore Sun, 2/7/16

‘Serial’ subject’s bid for new trial angers dead woman’s family, Ashley Southall, The New York Times, 2/7/16

Serial case: victim’s family offers rare statement before hearing resumes, Baynard Woods, The Guardian, 2/8/16

‘Serial’ case: Adnan Syed hearing expected to wrap up Tuesday, Justin Fenton, Baltimore Sun, 2/8/16

Testimony concludes in hearing on ‘Serial’ case, Christian Schaffer, ABC2 News WMAR Baltimore, 2/8/16

Adnan Syed hearing continues in Baltimore, The Marc Steiner Show [podcast featuring Doug Colbert], Steinershow.org, 2/8/16

Adnan Syed hearing: FBI agent accuses defense of manipulating evidence, Baynard Woods, The Guardian, 2/9/16

Adnan Syed’s post-conviction hearing, day 4: Chad Fitzgerald and Dave Irwin are back, plus ‘Useless Steve’ testifies, Amelia McDonell-Parry, The Frisky, 2/9/16

‘Serial’ case: Adnan Syed hearing wraps up, Justin Fenton, Baltimore Sun, 2/9/16

Lawyers wrap up closing arguments in ‘Serial’ case, Christian Schaffer & Mallory Sofastaii, ABC2 News WMAR Baltimore, 2/9/16

Judge, not armchair ‘Serial’ detectives, to decide retrial, Juliet Lindermann, Associated Press, in New Yorker and various other publications 2/9/16

Adnan Syed’s post-conviction hearing, day 5: Closing arguments & final thoughts Amelia McDonell-Parry, The Frisky, 2/10/16

Judge defers ruling on retrial for Adnan Syed in ‘Serial’ murder case, Baynard Woods, The Guardian, 2/10/16

Asia McClain speaks out about ‘Serial”s Adnan Syed, Mariam Khan, ABC News, 2/10/16

Thiru Vignarajah Statement, Press Q&A 2/9/16, Jessica DaSilva, 2/9/16

Adnan Syed Attorney Press Conference, Brown & Nieto LLC, 2/10/16

Sitting with Adnan, Justin Brown, BrownLaw, 2/13/16

The most memorable quotes from the Adnan Syed hearing, Seema Iyer, The Dean’s Report, 2/15/16

5 things I learned from reporting on Adnan Syed’s post-conviction hearing, Amelia McDonell-Parry, Crime Feed, 2/16/16

New evidence in ‘Serial’ hearing comes 16 years later, Jessica DaSilva, BNA Criminal Law Reporter, 2/17/16

New Trial Granted (June 2016) & Request for Bail (October 2016) #

Adnan Syed, of ‘Serial’ podcast, gets a retrial in murder case, Jonah Engel Bromwich & Liam Stack, The New York Times, 6/30/16

Conviction vacated, new trial granted for Adnan Syed of ‘Serial,’ Justin Fenton & Justin George, Baltimore Sun, 6/30/16

Adnan Syed of ‘Serial’ granted new trial, Mariam Khan, ABC, 6/30/16

With a major victory in hand, still a long road ahead for Adnan Syed, Justin Fenton, Baltimore Sun, 7/1/16

Family of victim from ‘Serial’ case reacts to new trial ruling, Justin Fenton, Baltimore Sun, 7/1/16

‘Serial’ subject Adnan Syed might fight for bail, lawyer says, Mariam Khan, ABC, 7/1/16

‘Serial’ subject Adnan Syed: 4 key pieces of evidence, explained, Amelia McDonnell-Parry, Rolling Stone, 7/1/16

Victim’s family ‘disappointed’ by Adnan Syed’s retrial, Liam Stack, The New York Times, 7/2/16

Hogan Lovells joins forces with Justin Brown to represent Adnan Syed, Business Wire, 7/6/16

The reasons ‘Serial’ subject Adnan Syed may receive a new trial, Mariam Khan, ABC News, 7/7/2016

Adnan Syed’s new lawyers may want to talk to Sarah Koenig–And Jay, Marisa M. Kashino, Washingtonian, 7/8/16

Two former classmates dispute account of alibi witness for ‘Serial’ subject Adnan Syed, Justin Fenton, Baltimore Sun, 8/22/16

Deputy attorney general who handled ‘Serial’ case appeal for state leaving position, Justin Fenton, Baltimore Sun, 9/2/16

‘Serial’: Can the State Stop Adnan Syed From Getting a New Murder Trial?, Amelia McDonnell-Parry, Rolling Stone, 10/24/16

‘Serial’ Subject Adnan Syed Seeks Prison Release While Awaiting New Trial, Amelia McDonnell-Parry, Rolling Stone, 10/24/16

Lawyers for Adnan Syed, of ‘Serial’ Podcast, Ask Court to Free Him on Bail, Jonah Engle Bromwich New York Times, 10/24/16

Serial’s Adnan Syed Launches Bid to Be Released From Prison, Miriam Khan, ABC News, 10/24/16

Serial’ podcast subject Adnan Syed asks for release from prison, Justin Fenton, Baltimore Sun, 10/24/16

​Adnan Syed asks for release from prison while he awaits retrial in Serial case, AP, The Guardian, 10/24/16

Adnan Syed’s attorneys file motion for release, Vanessa Herring, WBALTV 11, 10/25/16

State files opposition to Adnan Syed’s request for bail hearing, Justin Fenton, Baltimore Sun, 11/10/16

Court of Special Appeals Affirms New Trial Ruling (March 2018 – present) #

Maryland Court of Special Appeals upholds new trial for Adnan Syed, WBALTV 11, 3/29/18

New trial for ‘Serial’ subject Adnan Syed upheld by Maryland appeals court, Justin Fenton, Baltimore Sun, 3/29/18

‘Serial’: Adnan Syed wins right to new trial based on alibi evidence, Amelia McDonnell-Parry, Rolling Stone, 3/29/18

HBO announces ‘The Case Against Adnan Syed’ docuseries, Daniel Kreps, Rolling Stone, 5/16/18

‘Serial’: Baltimore State’s Attorney race could mean freedom for Adnan Syed, Amelia McDonnell-Parry, Rolling Stone, 5/21/18

Maryland Court of Appeals Overrules Grant of New Trial (March 2019 – present) #

Adnan Syed of ‘Serial’ is Denied a New Trial by Maryland Court of Appeals, Jacey Fortin, The New York Times, 3/8/2019

Adnan Syed deserves a new, and fair, trial, 42 wrongly convicted men and women say, Marty Tanklieff, Baltimore Sun, 4/18/2019

Legal Perspectives from Maryland Attorneys #

Blog of Adnan Syed’s attorney, C. Justin Brown. News and developments from 12/14/16 are covered on Adnan Syed updates page

ALA’s and Adnan Syed, Erica J. Suter, Maryland Post Conviction, 2/11/15

Ineffective assistance of counsel: trial strategy vs. screw up, Erica J. Suter, Maryland Post Conviction, 2/6/16

Ineffective assistance of counsel part 2: prejudice, Erica J. Suter, Maryland Post Conviction, 2/8/16

Ineffective assistance of counsel part 3: how much proof and other post-conviction details, Erica J. Suter, Maryland Post Conviction, 2/9/16

A new Supreme Court decision could affect State v. Syed, Steve Klepper, Maryland Appellate Blog, 3/8/16

What’s next for Adnan Syed: Post-conviction review is more of a marathon than a sprint, Erica Suter, Maryland Post Conviction, 7/4/16

Don’t appeal Syed’s new trial, Steven M. Klepper, Baltimore Sun, 7/9/16 [op-ed]

What’s Next for Adnan Syed? [UPDATE]: What’s been filed and what’s coming, Erica Suter, Maryland Post Conviction, 9/17/16

Part 1: Syed v. State: The Significance of the Latest Decision by the Maryland Court of Special Appeals, Erica Suter, Maryland Post Conviction,
3/30/18

Part 2: The Alibi Issue. Erica Suter, Maryland Post Conviction, 3/31/18

Maryland Certiorari Statistics, September Term 2017, Steve Klepper, MD Appeal blog, 6/11/18

July 2018 Maryland Certiorari Grants Include State v. Adnan Syed, Steve Klepper, MD Appeal blog, 7/12/18

Follow Justin Brown, Erica Suter and Steve Klepper on Twitter for spontaneous insights, technical explanations and the latest developments in the case. Colin Miller’s Evidence Prof blog is still providing regular legal analysis.