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Prosecutors have dropped charges against Adnan Syed, the man who was convicted of killing his former girlfriend in 2000, a case made popular by the 2014 “Serial” podcast that investigated issues with the prosecution.
A spokesperson for the Baltimore City State’s Attorney’s Office confirmed to ABC News that prosecutors are dropping the case against Syed.
A lawyer representing Syed also confirmed to ABC News that charges against Syed were dropped.
Syed, who is now 41, had been serving a life sentence for the past 23 years — more than half his life — since his arrest in 1999.
He was just 17 when he was convicted of first-degree murder, robbery, kidnapping and imprisonment of his ex-girlfriend, Hae Min Lee, in 2000.
On Jan. 13, 1999, 18-year-old Lee vanished after leaving Woodlawn High School in Baltimore, Maryland, where she was a senior.
Her body was found around one month later buried in a park in Baltimore. She had been strangled.
Syed has maintained his innocence and denied any involvement in Lee’s death.
Judge Michelle Phinn ordered Syed’s release last month after prosecutors requested that his conviction be vacated.
“At this time, we will remove the shackles from Mr. Syed,” Phinn declared after announcing her decision from the bench.
She said then that “in the interests of fairness and justice,” Syed should be released on his own recognizance after finding that prosecutors failed to turn over evidence that could have helped his trial in 2000 and after new evidence was discovered that could have affected the outcome of his case.
