Adnan Syed is finally in the clear as Baltimore prosecutors drop charges
Baltimore, Maryland - Baltimore prosecutors have dropped all charges against Adnan Syed, the subject of the hit podcast Serial who wrongly served 22 years for the 1999 murder of his ex-girlfriend Hae Min Lee.
Per The Associated Press, a spokesperson for the Baltimore City state's attorney's office confirmed the case against Syed has been dropped.
In 1999, Lee was found strangled to death in a Baltimore Park. Syed, who was 17 years old at the time of Lee's murder, was sentenced to life in prison after he was convicted of first-degree murder, robbery, kidnapping, and false imprisonment the following year.
Throughout the years, he has always maintained his innocence and his case became world-famous after being covered by the true-crime podcast Serial, which raised doubts about Syed's guilt and the evidence used to convict him in the trial.
The podcast's popularity brought significant public interest, which led to a reexamination of the case. The investigation revealed new evidence pointing to two alternate suspects, who had not been ruled out in 2000. Last month, a Baltimore judge overturned Syed's conviction and released him from prison in September.
Prosecutors were then given 30 days to either proceed with a new trial or drop the charges while awaiting DNA analysis results.
Hae Min Lee's family had asked for the deadline to be suspended so they could have a chance to attend another hearing on the decision to release Syed.
Cover photo: REUTERS/JONATHAN ERNST