I Just Finished Serial and We Must Talk About It!
Serial is the newest thing everyone can’t stop talking about. It’s a podcast hosted by a reporter from WBEZ Chicago named Sarah Koenig, and produced by Ira Glass of This American Life and season 1 just wrapped.
This entire season of Serial follows the case of Adnan Syed, a man who is serving a life sentence in Maryland because he was convicted for killing his ex-girlfriend Hae Min Lee when they were seniors in high school, 15 years ago. This is a TRUE story, and every episode, Sarah takes us through new developments she’s unearthed, interviews with all the parties involved (including Adnan) and her team of reporters. How did she find out about this case? A woman named Rabia Chaudry contacted her. She’s a family friend of the Syeds and she believes that Adnan is spending his life in jail for a crime he did not commit.
Adnan was born in the United States to Pakistani parents, and they’re Muslims. He was forbidden from dating but teens will be teens. Hae’s parents are Korean and she was also not allowed to date. They did anyway, in secret, and a month after they break up, she comes up missing and they find her weeks later, dead.
Adnan maintains his innocence and the main evidence against him is the testimony of a guy named Jay, who said he helped him bury the body of Hae on the evening of January 13, 1999.
All the info I just gave you is in episode 1, so this is not even the spoiler or plot points that give any real thing away.
IF YOU HAVE NOT LISTENED TO SERIAL, THIS IS WHERE YOU STOP READING THIS ARTICLE BECAUSE SPOILER ALERTS AND STUFF YOU WANNA GATHER YOURSELF. GO AWAY AND GO LISTEN NOW!!!
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Ok they’re gone. For the rest of us, let’s talk about this.
First things first: Adnan should not be in jail right now based on the evidence that was against him. The evidence against him is flimsier than tin foil. The fact that he got convicted strictly on Jay’s word and with inconsistent phone records, doe. I mean… COME ON. There was no physical evidence that linked Adnan to the crime. His downfall was a lack of alibi and Jay’s word. That should not have been enough. People shouldn’t be found guilty if there’s enough reasonable doubt and there definitely is enough here.
Especially since we found out that the prosecution got Jay a FREE lawyer who managed to get him immunity even though he was an accessory to murder. How does the person who helped BURY THE BODY never spend one day in jail? HOW, SWAY? I understand why Christina Gutierrez, Adnan’s lawyer shrieked like a banshee when she found out that fact. There are levels to that crookedness. Jay WAS bought off. He bought his freedom with the testimony against Adnan.
Speaking of Tina Gutierrez, she didn’t throw the case: she blew it. She wasn’t trying to lose but she lost from her incompetence brought on by her failing health. All that money she got from Adnan’s family and she didn’t even follow up on IMPORTANT things, like Asia’s affidavit, and physical evidence on Hae’s body. Like DAFUQ? She should have handed the case over to someone else, and she’s dead now so she can’t be questioned. BUT it’s clear that she handled Adnan’s case terribly and that is partly why he’s spent the last 15 years behind bars.
I do not buy the idea that Adnan was so hurt by the breakup with Hae Min Lee that he killed her. It had been a month, he had met her ex and everyone around them said he had already moved on to crushing on someone else (Nisha). NO ONE said he was Hulking out about the breakup. Is it possible that on the inside, he was stewing? Yes. But enough to kill her in the middle of a Best Buy parking lot in the middle of the day? Nah.
Folks were talmbout how because he was Muslim, he took their relationship more to heart and that must have been why he was so deeply hurt. That’s another thing. His religion DID cloud some of the facts of this case and he was discriminated against because of it. The tape from the bail hearing where the prosecution said he had an uncle in Pakistan who would help him flee the country had my mouth drop. SERIOUSLY?!?! Ugh.
Now, about the Alibi that Adnan did not have. If he was really going to kill Hae, would he not have had a greater recollection of his day with a BETTER alibi? Would he not have made sure he made his presence KNOWN at track practice so people could vouch for him? Walk up to the coach and high five him or something so that dude coulda more than remembered he was there. Would he not have made sure he coulda accounted for EVERY SECOND of his day? Adnan was smart, right? Well if he was about to kill his ex, he would have better answers for his day besides “I probably was doing that” and “I don’t know. Maybe.”
It is in Adnan’s cluelessness about his day that I really do believe him. It’s simple but it’s earnest. I do not remember what I wore 3 days ago. Ask me what I was doing between 2:36pm and 6pm and I’ll look at you like you asked me to recite Pi.
Plus, I do believe in Adnan being a nice guy who wouldn’t kill someone. Yes, he stole money from his mosque and yes he smoked weed but that is a far cry from killing someone. Like Dierdre of the Innocence Project told Sarah, she’s just not that lucky to stumble upon a sociopath on this case. He seems like a mischievous teenager who just got caught up and setup. I think he’s innocent of murder. He might have been doing shady things with Jay (maybe dealing too) but did he kill his ex? I don’t see it.
That brings me to Jay. I think someone else killed Hae and Jay was roped into it and forced to help them bury her body. That same force or threat is what still has Jay petrified after this whole time. Remember the dude Josh saying that Jay was on the verge of tears when he saw a car parked outside their job and he thought someone was after him? How could that person be Adnan when he’s behind bars already? Whoever is this third person is still why Jay wouldn’t even talk to Sarah on tape. He is SPOOKED. And I think that is the person who killed Hae.
Adnan was a convenient person to pin the murder on. Why? Because they could make it seem like it could make sense. Plus since he had his phone and car, Jay could really lay out the timeline to fit what he needs it to.
All the changing things in Jay’s story is enough to let me know he is lying through his teeth. From telling Josh that Adnan came and met him at a pool hall to say he’s killed Hae to him telling cops Adnan called him from the Best Buy parking lot to tell him to come get him. To whether they went to the park to smoke before he dropped Adnan at school for track practice. Many things just don’t add up. I do believe the Nisha call was a butt dial.
And the 3 hours where Jay was being interviewed by the cops and there’s no tape, I think he was absolutely coached. Shoot, that’s probably where they told him he would not get a day in jail for burying the body of a murder victim. He got that good good snitching deal.
Also, what role does Jay’s friend Jenn have to play in all this? So she just helped him dump the shovel and his clothes and that’s it? Her version of the story also shifts. And Stephanie, Jay’s girlfriend. It was her birthday but nobody called her that day? They didn’t take her to dinner? Why is she not even an equation in all this when Adnan said he loaned Jay his car so he could go to the mall and get her a gift? There’s so much here. But I shall stop.
There’s something rotten in Denmark and it is this story! SO MANY QUESTIONS. Serial ended with no definitive answer and some people are mad about that. BUT Sarah did say that it’s all happening in real-time so I didn’t expect there to be one. All we do know now is that Adnan’s case is going to appeals in January. And the Innocence Project is getting DNA tests done on specimen found on Hae’s body (The Innocence Project Tells Serial Fans What Might Happen Next).
I REALLLLLLYYY think Adnan is innocent here. Jay is shady as hell but there’s someone else who did this who is still free and Jay protected them by throwing Adnan under the bus.
What do you think? Is Adnan guilty or innocent? What do you think really happened? Could it be the serial killer for real? WHODUNNIT?
Other reads (because we’re all obsessed):
10 Crazy (and Some Not-So-Crazy) ‘Serial’ Theories
Adnan Syed’s Murder Case Is Headed to Appeals Court in January
Rabia Chaudry’s Blog (Split The Moon)
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47 Comments
this is why I luv you, Luvvie!! We go together like butt and bench!!!! I have one more episode to listen to but I am sooooo with you… Adnan is an innocent man and Jay is shadier than a Grimm’s Fairytale forest!!! Even Robin Hood and all his Merry Men are lost in the woods!
I think all anyone can do at the end of Serial is decide if they were on that jury and they were presented with the evidence as Sarah Koenig presented it, could you still vote to convict. My answer is no. The reasonable doubt here is so thick it could be an extra in a Nicki Minaj video.
Many people have gone to jail on the trash testimony of a witness with everything to gain by saying what they said. Christina Gutierrez made a mistake with getting the first trial thrown out. The prosecution learned their lesson and picked a mostly black jury to believe the black teenager they were going to put on the stand. All they know for certain is that Jay knew where the car was, that Jay had both Adnan’s car and cell phone that day, and Jay had a whole month to craft a story. After all this, Jay looks more guilty than Adnan, and he should have been looked at a lot harder.
Yea. Unfortunately, Xtina showed her hand on that first case.
I’ve been so wrapped up in Adnan’s life!!! Sheesh!! I do believe he is innocent. I especially believe that Jay is a shady, shady character. But what I can’t figure out is WHODUNNIT!!! & why was Adnan so damn unlucky?! THAT is what you call having a bad damn day!
Yes to all this. Something definitely stinky in Denmark and it ain’t the fish. Like I said on FB, I think the Po used Jay as an avatar to say stuff they couldn’t. I think Jay is a rat and is in way deeper than he’s telling. I think Adnan’s lawyer shit the bed and wiped her ass with his case & there was a trough of collusion happening that landed Adnan in jail.
Also too, am I the only one who wouldn’t mind seeing a current pic of Adnan? He sounds like he’s fahn. Ok. I’ll show myself out.
he sho’ do sound fine as may wine in dem phone calls!
You are so right. The reason I listen. That cheerful nonchalant “What’s up girl” voice
Cosign
I thought it was just me who thought Adnan sounds fine. He’s nuevo #prisonbae
There are current pics floating around. He thickin than a snicka now. http://chicagoings.com/serial-podcast-supplements/
Whew! I am so happy that you are into this serial as well!! I binge listened this past week, woke up at 6 AM on Thursday to download the final episode. .on my way to my colonoscopy. TMI..too bad! I also believe that Adnan is innocent, he was a child of immigrant parents who was fluctuating between his culture and the American culture. I’ve been there myself, it’s a fine line. He didn’t murder that poor girl, otherwise like you said, he would have had a solid alibi for his whereabouts that day. What about Don? How convenient that he was supposed to work at one Lenscrafters, but goes to another one, where conveniently his mother is the manager. Hmmm. There are so many questions, so many holes in the prosecution’s story. I, for one will be following to see the outcome. Whatever it may be. Thanks Luvvie for your words of wisdom. ..you always know how to coax a cackle out of me!
Can we talk about how the “Mail…Kimp?” girl in the beginning gives me all types of life?
Lmao! We have a running joke in our house, and that is that “Mail Kimp” girl did it!
Every time I hear that broad I’m like Girl what?
Once again, Luuvie finds a way to infiltrate my day with something! Listened to the first episode and I am already hooked. Considering that this happened only 5 miles from where I live, I can’t help but be interested. Thanks!
“Would he not have made sure he made his presence KNOWN at track practice so people could vouch for him? Walk up to the coach and high five him or something so that dude coulda more than remembered he was there. Would he not have made sure he coulda accounted for EVERY SECOND of his day?”
Superdeeduper good point. Hadn’t considered that.
The serial killer cliffhanger sure is intriguing.
Were you laughing as hard as I was in the driving from school to Best Buy episode when SK and her copilot were casually tossing out every nickname for smoking a doobie that ever was?
I just hope that one way or another, the truth comes out. Jay is probably not the only one who knows what really went down, (other than the real killer). With a new trial and all, hopefully someone will bravely step forward and tell the truth.
ALLLL GREAT POINTS! I was too excited to see this article. Please bear with me. I’ve got some things on my chest.
Against Adnan
1. Asia’s Affidavit: According to the blog on serialpodcast.org, Asia may have gotten her days mixed up. Because: Weather reports and stuff.
2. The note that Hae wrote Adnan expressing her disappointment over how he was handling the breakup in itself proves for me that there were lingering feelings in Adnan and his actions made Hae feel disrespected in some way.
a. Also, “I’m going to kill” was written on that note. Why is no one taking that more seriously?
3. According to Adnan, he and Jay were not close friends. His reason for lending Jay his car and phone (things you would NEVER give someone you don’t trust with your life)? He wanted Jay to get Stephanie a gift. Adnan? You need more people.
4. He didn’t call Hae when she went missing and doesn’t seem angry at Jay. I’m judging.
5. I agree w/Dana. Too many coincidences.
For Adnan
1. Since when do potheads (Adana was a pothead) plot and plan and gather the strength to choke folks in public. Yea. They don’t.
2. The Niche call, where she spoke with Jay, clearly happened AFTER Jay got the job at the adult store. Why didn’t Christina press this issue? Didn’t she cross examine the girl?!
3. How did the judge know without a doubt that Jay wasn’t effected by the prosecutor providing council? How you know that judge? Anyway, irrelevant. At the least, he should have to get a new lawyer. Mistrial, please.
Points of interest
1. I think Jay got two years’ probation. But…yea. I know.
2. The prosecution stating that Adnan had an uncle who could make folks disappear though? Just straight up lies! That entire incident, as well as that sorry letter of apology she wrote after the fact, sits troubled in my soul.
3. Any potential suspect the Innocence Project introduces who is not connected to Jay, for me, is extraneous. Jay is the only one we know FOR SURE has something to do with Hae’s murder.
Regarding your points “Against Adnan:”
2. The note that Hae wrote Adnan expressing her disappointment over how he was handling the breakup in itself proves for me that there were lingering feelings in Adnan and his actions made Hae feel disrespected in some way.
Meh, a snapshot of a moment. As he said about other stuff she wrote in her diary, she was taking stuff way deeper than him because she had an active teenage girl imagination/interpretation of situations.
a. Also, “I’m going to kill” was written on that note. Why is no one taking that more seriously?
I don’t take it seriously because it could be as simple as someone grabbing a slip of paper to start a note like “I’m going to kill X for stealing my candy bar,” but never finishing that sentence because they realized they were writing on a private, important note they didn’t want to share.
3. According to Adnan, he and Jay were not close friends. His reason for lending Jay his car and phone (things you would NEVER give someone you don’t trust with your life)? He wanted Jay to get Stephanie a gift. Adnan? You need more people.
Some people are not as serious about their valuables as we are–I don’t understand, but I’ve seen it.
4. He didn’t call Hae when she went missing and doesn’t seem angry at Jay. I’m judging.
Well Don didn’t call Hae either and he was actually with her at the time, not perhaps giving her ex space like Adnan.
It’s possible that Adnan was angry at Jay, but it’s been so many years. Maybe he’s more emotionally mature than the average person and has let that go over the years.
#2a: A friend and I were just discussing this point last week. His sentiments seem to be the same as yours. My thought: Saying something carelessly is easy. Physically writing something down, however, is more serious, involves another section of our brain. If you write “I’m going to kill” on a note your ex wrote expressing her displeasure with your behavior, you’d cross it out immediately.
#4: I understand forgiving Jay but to not be dumbfounded by Jay pinning everything on you, that I don’t understand. Not being utterly confused as to why Jay would choose you. Not constantly bringing up Jay when defending yourself. This is strange. Also, calling your accuser “pathetic” in court sounds more like an accomplice disciplining his partner and not a victim confronting his accuser.
– All of these things separately can be easily dismissed. Together, though, they are all just too “coincidental” for my taste. I don’t know if he’s guilty. I’m no lawyer. Something’s off though.
(I’m loving this discussing a little too much, perhaps.)
As for Point 2: Hae could have been “disappointed” because Adnan was nonchalant about the break up, not necessarily because he was upset or obsessed. I’d be disappointed too if the guy I just broke up with had no damns to give about it. Just saying.
Except Hae’s letter expresses that there relationship is over and she was moving on. It’s asking Adnan to respect her decision.
I think Adnan is innocent, but, even if you don’t think he’s innocent, this case is FULL of reasonable doubt! Jay’s story is full of holes, there is zero physical evidence or DNA tying Adnan to this crime, and the “motive” is so weak! I don’t know how they can leave us hanging like this!!! I NEED ANSWERS!!!
I honestly don’t know what to think because I feel like they are just too many frickin’ holes. I do feel like there was not enough evidence to put Adnan in jail. The one thing that seems consistent is that Jay lies. Jay admits he lies, so does his friend Jen, I think. So does Josh from the video store. How does anytime get convicted off of Pinocchio’s testimony? Also, how come we never hear from Stephanie? I want to know what she knows because I have this feeling that it’s a lot. And who loans there ride and their phone to someone not considered a close friend? Mine of this ish adds up. That episode about the streaker had me laughing for a long while. Sara Koenig is a great storyteller. I hope the innocence project turns something up. And Mrs. Gutierrez’s voice was THE WORST. Shid, he might have lost just because of that.
I may be the only one in the world that doesn’t believe Adnan is innocent….at all. Lol I had to go back and re-listen to the season in bulk to get a better understanding. Do I believe the evidence should have lead to his incarceration? Hell No.However, there are plenty of small things against Adnan that many people seem to forget. For example, when in the courtroom it was reported he told Jay “you’re pathetic”. That’s not something you say to someone who is lying on you. That is what you say to someone who is dropping the dime. We must also remember the friends (2 I believe) who stated they were aware of Adnan threatening Jay’s girlfriend to him. Also, (I believe) two people witnessed him asking Hae for a ride because his car was in the shop/messed up; when really Jay had it. He was also with Jay the day of the murder, between the time Hae is believed to have been killed and buried. While Jay’s story has more holes than Stacey Dash’s common sense, it’s the only logical explanation.
Jay didn’t have “access” to Hae. They were not believed to be friends. She wouldn’t have went anywhere with him, let alone get close to him. She was however, very close to Adnan. He is the only link that can put Hae and Jay together. While many people want to disregard this fact, we must take into account the type of kid Adnan was. He was basically living a double life behind his parents’ back. Also, even though he wasn’t best friends with Jay…he still hung with him. Him hanging out with a character like Jay while he was the “goody-goody” says a lot more than we want to admit.
In a nutshell, my belief is this was a murder for hire. I believe Adnan wanted Hae dead. I’m one of the few that believe the break up affected Adnan more than he put on. Just because no one noticed, doesn’t mean he wasn’t torn up and full of rage. Hell, he basically put his life and family on the line for her. I believe he arranged for his stoner friend (Jay) to kill Hae and help him hide the body. Something in their deal went totally wrong and Jay folded. I can’t fathom a reason to lie this extensively and just make a story up to cover for someone else. It would be too much of a coincidence for Jay to have knowledge of his friend’s ex-girlfriend’s murder, and to be hanging out with him the same day. Not to mention, Adnan’s memory is perfect for every part of the day except the time between Hae has supposedly killed and buried. Motive and access is there, just no physical evidence.
Side-note: I think Adnan has charmed people, especially the host. His “good guy” persona is kinda creepy for someone who is been in jail for 15 years for a crime he claims he didn’t commit. I know Sarah said she believed this is because he’s careful to not sound aggressive…but I don’t buy it. I don’t want to come off as the person who doubts sincerity, but I could feel the bullshit in his voice. LoL
Adnan is too chill to not be involved. He has a serious Scott Peterson vibe going. I have dealt with many people like that and can’t shake how intent he is to make SK believe him with his overly calm explanations. I think a third person may have done the actual killing with Adnan and Jay running interference. The “I insisted the guy who sells me pot take my car and brand new cell phone” story is too convenient. His insistence that he didn’t call Hae’s phone after she was listed as missing because her friends were keeping him up on details is strange. He’s trying so hard to be detached.
Exactly. Well put.
There’s also that cell tower evidence that they were driving around lunchtime downtown near the red light district rather than at the mall: trying to hire someone else to do the job? Looking to buy a weapon?
Very, very strange pieces that don’t align toward either Adnan or Jay, but make them both look involved. Heavily involved.
Travis,
One thing that struck me was how calm Adnan appeared in the taped interviews. I never been in jail so who knows how I would sound but he sounded very calm, grounded and almost content after being in a max prison for 15 years. I don’t know what, if anything, that means but it did strike me as odd.
Also, it is BOLD as hell to kill someone by strangulation in broad daylight. Hae would have caused a scene and put up a fight if she had been taken by someone she didn’t know. The only way to pull this off is to catch to her off guard by thinking her and Adnan were just gonna hang with his friend, Jay.Also, let’s not forget death by strangulation is considered a personal crime: a crime committed by someone close to the victim.
I don’t think Adnan killed her. He shouldn’t be in jail. But like one of the producers said in the last episode, he’s got to be the unlickiest guy on earth to not have his phone or car AND Jay knew where Hae’s car was! Too much reasonable doubt but no clear innocence either.
And I hope “mail… kimp??” Is still the sponsor.
I’m totally with you on your summation. Adnan is innocent and someone roped Jay into it and threatened him and maybe Stephanie. Saying that someone was “Adnan’s people” does not wash with me.
My suspect is Don. He says Hae pursued him and they started dating and he fell in love w her in 13 days? He says he had come out of a couple relationships where women had “cheated” on him. He said Hae was bolstering his sense of self value/self worth. There was the note to him in Hae’s car that says she was trying to meet up with him. He was a grown-ass man dating a high school girl and her worked at LENSCRAFTERS!
What I see is someone with really low self esteem who gets overcommitted too fast then can see anything his girlfriend does as cheating or betrayal. Maybe Adnan did get a ride with Hae that day and Don found out and flew off the handle and murdered her. He’s been listening to Hae talk about her school friends, so he knows about Adnan, Jay, Stephanie, people’s routines. If Don did it, the time of death and burial could have happened any time that night. The phone timeline doesn’t matter anymore. Don’s alibi of working until 6 doesn’t mean shit any more.
SOLVED
I, like most, am on the fence about Adnan’s guilt. I keep thinking about the weather. If there was an ice storm the next day, the ground was most likely REALLY hard. Can’t dig a grave in 30 minutes. However, if there had been a snow storm 5 days before, with 4 inches of snow, there may have still been snow in the woods. Did they take samples from Hae’s tires? Also, didn’t his friend say in episode 1 that they didn’t even know where Leakin Park was? I live in this area and those woods are INTENSE. I don’t go through there after dusk. Plus, even now I still don’t get good cell reception back there, so I know it was impossible in 1999 to get a call in the wooods. I don’t know how Adnan could have strangled her with his bare hands and left NO evidence in her car. Even if it was him, she would have struggled. Somebody would have seen that in the Best Buy parking lot. Additionally, if he is accustomed to lying to his parents about his whereabouts, he definitely would have concocted a sound alibi. Come on! Any teenager is going to come up with something better than an “Idk.”
There are too many holes for this to be a conviction, even if he did do it.
I am so glad you blogged about this Luvvie! I listened to all 12 episodes in one day!
I really don’t think Adnan killed her, I think Jay and his changing stories and drug dealings had something to do with it for sure. Getting rid of clothes, shovels and all that is not normal. Claiming he did all of that and didn’t go to the cops because he was scared of Adnan is a load of boolsheet!
FREE ADNAN!!!
I forgot to mention that I find it super odd that he is so foggy about that day. That’s the only thing that has me questioning Adnan’s innocence. But that jury knew there was reasonable doubt and should not sent him to jail.
On episode 4. Trying to figure Jays motive. He sounds jealous.his defense was horrible!
1. I’d have to listen again, but i don’t think the prosecution (or defense) ever nailed down exactly WHEN Hae died, or more importantly WHEN she was buried. It was winter, so could the medical examiner have the timeline so nailed down? Jay and Adnan could have hung out that day (like they both state), but Hae could have been buried at a different time.
2. How does ERRBODY that knew Jay say he was a liar, he lied to the police, his story did not stay the same NOT NAAN TIME….yet he is the lead witness? This is the dude everyone believed? Christina should have ripped him apart on the stand, and she didn’t. His story didn’t even match the phone records! I can’t.
3. From the audio tapes, Christina would have annoyed the everloving heck out of me if I was a juror. That screechy-slow-scream-then-whispery voice could have driven me to vote ‘Guilty’ out of spite.
4. How do you not question witnesses that help your case? What kind of foolishness…
5. The Nisha call.. Nisha said that she thought the phone call w/ Adnan and Jay was later in the day than what the prosecution said… Why didn’t they pull HER phone records? Did Christina do anything to show that there was a second phone call to Nisha that may not have been on Adnan’s personal cell phone?
So much of this case irked me. I agree, there was not enough evidence to convict him at all.
YES! WHY didn’t they pull Nisha’s phone records!? So simple.
Jay is so guilty. That episode where he was supposedly terrified of some van parked outside was probably him just tripping after some bad drugs. Those racist police wanted to solve that crime quickly, how can Jay and the chick who helped hide the evidence not be in jail even for a second? On a strictly shallow note – Adnan’s sexy laid back voice on that prison phone, can you please do a whole blog on that Luvvie. Please??!?!??!?!?!
I agree. He was more concerned with ditching his clothes and cleaning off the shovels than Adnan was. And didn’t anyone get suspicious when they went to shovel snow at Jay’s house and there weren’t any? He was a petty weed dealer. Why be so paranoid? Police immediately turned their attention to Adnan when they got the anonymous call. All that conversation that wasn’t recorded? And why did Adnan give Jay his car and phone if they weren’t BFFs? I don’t even let my momma use my phone!
I think Jay pressed him to take the car. Said he had to get a gift for Stephanie. Back in those days having a phone in school was damn near illegal, so Adnan would have left it in the car anyway. And why Best Buy? He could have killed her anywhere, ditched the car and covered it up with Jenn. She seems to be the only one to corroborate Jay’s story.
If Adnan is guilty of anything it is being friends with that liar. And being a too-trusting, naive teenager.
1) I grew up near that Best Buy. He did not kill her there in daylight. It just isn’t possible. It is on one of the busiest roads in Baltimore County. It would make more sense to kill someone IN Leakin Park but at the Best Buy? Nah.
2) Where was the DNA testing? How could he have strangled her without her struggling?
3) I’m unsure whether Adnan is innocent but I can’t believe they convicted him based on this scant evidence. This case relies on a bunch of high school gossip and sketchy records.
4) This whole trial is jacked up. No DNA, the records don’t match up with Jay’s story, stories keep changing, Adnan didn’t testify. I jsut don’t understand how the jury was able to make a decision.
Love your blog Luvvie-but I have to disagree with you on this one. If I found out that my ex was murdered on such and such a day-I would totally try and account for where I was and who I was with, at least a little. And in Jay’s defense-he told the cops everything he knew BEFORE they gave him a lawyer. Something about the way Adnan answers questions just makes the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. When Sara asks him important questions he takes these long pauses like he’s weighing his answers and I don’t like it.
omg! Have you listened to Serially Obsessed Podcast? They are amazing!
Ok, I just finished listening to Serial. Loved listening to it. I am from Woodlawn and was around the age of these teens so I could really picture places described (like, yes, there was no pay phone in front of the best buy). I don’t know if he did it but I do know one thing, he should not have been found guilty. The circumstantial evidence was not strong enough. Which makes me wonder, what exactly got him convicted? The shoddy lawyer? A jury with unconscious bias against Muslims? No better alternative so they felt they had to blame someone? I really hope they take another look at his case. If he is really innocent it’s heart breaking that he’s been in jail all this time but he sounds like he’s handling it well. Not sure how I’d sound if I was in his shoes….
Not that Luvvie has forced me into listening to 12hours of podcast in 1 day….
Damn! Damn! Damn! Why Luuvie why? Just started the podcast. 30 mins into the 1st episode….ugh I’m hooked. Gonna be strung out trying to catch up so I can read the post and comments and chime in.
I am about half way through and I am unclear if Adnan is guilty but one thing I am certain of is that Jay is guilty as hell. At best he is an accessory to murder at worse he actually killed Hae and set Adnan up (reasons unknown). I think we have to wait until the DNA comes back.