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.

Adnan Syed leaves the Baltimore City Circuit Courthouse after his 2000 murder conviction was overturned on September 19.
Adnan Syed leaves the Baltimore City Circuit Courthouse after his 2000 murder conviction was overturned on September 19.  © REUTERS/JONATHAN ERNST

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

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