Last December, along with the rest of the world, I was completely wrapped up in Serial. I clung to every word, cursing when the episode would end with yet another question left to answer. I talked about it any chance I got, telling everyone I knew that they had to listen to it. Yeah, I was obsessed.
At first it was just an interesting story, something to distract me from the fact that my own life was totally unraveling. And though it might be shameful to admit, it gave me comfort that things could always be worse.
Like the rest of the world, I was left wanting more at the end. Sure, Adnan was charming and Koenig delivered an intoxicating narrative, but the big picture came screaming into focus. This was a kid sentenced to life in prison (plus 30 years) for a crime he still claims to this day, 15 years later, that he didn’t commit.
In recent months, I’ve been listening to Undisclosed. Remember Rabia Chaudry? She initially introduced Sarah Koenig to the Adnan’s case. Well, she and a few of her lawyer buddies produce this podcast, releasing new episodes every Monday, digging deeper into the case, tossing out theories and at times totally shattering the state’s case.
At the end of Serial, all we knew was that there was very little (if any) evidence linking Adnan Syed to Hae Min Lee’s murder. In fact, there was no physical evidence linking him to the crime, and yet he was sentenced.
I’m not a lawyer. The extent of my lawyering experience comes from watching episodes of The Good Wife and Drop Dead Diva (judge away). So what would that be called? An arm chair lawyer? Sure. But I’m having a hard time wrapping my head around the fact that with no physical evidence, Adnan was found guilty.
Let me refresh your memory here for a second. O.J. Simposon went on trial in 1995 for the murders of his wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, and Ron Goldman. Physical evidence was stacked against him, placing him at the scene of the crime, leaving him literally red handed. His blood and DNA were all over the crime scene. The victims’ blood was found inside his now ever famous white Bronco. His motive was clear. But when it came time to deliberate, the jury found him not guilty, releasing a murderer out onto the streets.
Two wildly publicized murder trials with two very different verdicts. A possibly innocent man imprisoned for life vs. a murderer left roaming the streets (well, not for good. Simpson did eventually land himself a hefty prison sentence for robbery).
Do I think Adnan did it? Like I said before, I’m not a lawyer. But listen to Undisclosed. I think then you’ll understand why I believe that he actually might be innocent.
I’m sure you all have some opinions, and I’d really like to hear them. Share below, do you think Adnan is guilty? Have you listened to Undisclosed? If so, what you think about the shocking cell tower information and do you think it totally discredits the state’s case? And just for fun, tell me how old you were during the Simpson trial and if you remember any of it.
Undisclosed is on my list to listen to!! Maybe I'll give that a go this weekend while Amir is off scuba diving! Rabia Chaudry has met a few of my friends (crazy, right!) and I commented on her post when Undisclosed went live and she LIKED it! Hahaha. I felt very special. But I digress, I used to do mock trial back in college and even with that little tiny inkling of law knowledge, I don't understand for one second how the state convicted Adnan.
I still hope he ends up with a fair trial someday soon and that the firms working with him now will be able to get him out!
Scott and I have differing opinions at this point. I always thought Adnan didn't do it because Jay and the Baltimore PD are sketchy and inconsistent. Scott is starting to waver and thinks maybe he did do it.
I think he did it. if not, then who? The whole thing that he didn't call her (or beep her) always stuck with me. i've never heard of someone being so unlucky, as dana said. And there's more but it's all armchair detective work.
Crazy that you're posting about this because my sister was in town and my brother-in-law told me about Undisclosed over the weekend. I listened to Serial and just downloaded the Undisclosed podcast yesterday. I'm going to start listening to it today. I'll be thinking of you and telepathically sending you messages!! Haha. 🙂
I kind of hated Undisclosed, I tried multiple times to listen but I've given up. Rather than asking myself if he was guilty I asked myself if I could convict him as a juror and the answer to that is no. Even if he is involved I think the prosecution did not prove that. I also read that the jurors who did convict thought Jay went to jail still, just got a reduced sentence. Makes me think they were both involved and the city just wanted a young girl's murder case to be wrapped up neatly with a bow so they made it happen.
I agree with Amber above. Whether or not I think he is guilty, I don't know. But if I was on the jury, I would not have convicted him. Meanwhile, I had no idea the evidence was so strong against that OJ Simpson guy. KC has mentioned it a time or two but I didn't know anything about it. Did that really happen?! How did he go free? WTF?
I'll have to add Undisclosed to my list now.
I always have said that's a fear of mine – being put in jail for a crime I didn't commit. I think it happens all the time… & then yes, OJ… that drives me NUTS!!!!! All the evidence only proving him – & he got off. WHAT IS WRONG WITH THIS WORLD?!!?!?
I remember exactly where I was during the Bronco chase.. my husband & I (just dating at the time) went to dinner & they had it on the TV's at the restaurant & we came home & watched it on the news al night long… seems like yesterday.
I loved the Serial podcast, but I haven't listened to Undisclosed yet. Even with all my lawyerly knowledge and experience, I don't know if he did it or not. I tend to think that he did, primarily for two reasons– 1) I don't see why Jay would have made up a story like that out of the blue. I know that people lie for a lot of reasons and for no reason. But something about his story didn't seem out of the realm of possibility to me. And 2) Adnan never tried to contact her when he knew she was missing. That seems very odd to me for a guy who claimed they were close friends. There are a ton of little things that don't fit, and there are a ton of little things that do fit. So who really knows? I would've found it difficult probably to convict him, but I can see how it happened. It's such a mystery, and it frustrates me a little that we'll never know the truth! Lol
This is really interesting!!
I have been listening to Undisclosed too. I have to say that there are a few episodes that just really got on my nerves and I had to skip but what I will say is that had I been a juror on his case…there is no way I could have said he was guilty. There is so much doubt and so many holes in the case!!! I just don't understand how he is sitting in prison.
I want to like Undisclosed but I feel like they ramble and their lack of broadcasting experience made it hard to listen to. I still find the case fascinating, though, and definitely don't think he should have been convicted. I'm ready for Serial season two and I hope the case is presented in the same interesting way.
So I finally started downloading episodes of this onto my phone!!!!! I didn't know there was one called Undisclosed, too. I'll have to check it out!
Undisclosed was hard for me to get into, but I was obsessed with Serial — like listened to the entire series in 3 or 4 days obsessed. I tried listening to Undisclosed but I gave up. I felt like it was too much legal-eze but they did bring up some good points. The cell tower revelation was HUGE!
I was 11 when the OJ Simpson verdict came out and I remember being in 5th grade and just really trying to understand why he wasn't convicted, I couldn't wrap my head around it. Jake DVR'ed the OJ Special so we will be watching it soon and then we can discuss!
I have like 3 podcasts of Serial left go to. But honestly, it doesn't seem like they had enough to pin it on him. I remember the OJ Simpson trial and still can't believe they found him not guilty.
I'm with Amber – I HAVE to make the question be whether I could have convicted as a juror, and the answer to that is a wholehearted no. The question of whether he did it is so difficult that I don't even feel comfortable speculating. There are SO MANY holes in both sides' stories. I haven't listened to Undisclosed, but I've been meaning to. Now I will!
I'm with Amber – I HAVE to make the question be whether I could have convicted as a juror, and the answer to that is a wholehearted no. The question of whether he did it is so difficult that I don't even feel comfortable speculating. There are SO MANY holes in both sides' stories. I haven't listened to Undisclosed, but I've been meaning to. Now I will!
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I love Serial! Like everyone else, after Serial ended, I was scratching my head. How could he be sentenced with no physical evidence? Jay still weirds me out. I can't wait for it to start again. I will have to start listening to Undisclosed. I had no idea!
Annie- All Things Big and Small
I still haven't made a final decision on whether or not I think Adnon did it. If I were forced to decide right now, I would definitely say no. I do find it shocking that a jury found him guilty with such little evidence. And Undisclosed definitely leaves me thinking every week at how thin the state's case was!