Adnan Syed’s murder conviction was overturned by a Baltimore Circuit judge in September 2022 after he served 20 years of a life sentence — details
Adnan Syed‘s criminal case has been an ongoing topic of discussion since the “Serial” podcast generated new interest in his conviction.
Syed was initially accused of first-degree murder in February 1999 after his ex-girlfriend Hae Min Lee was found dead one month prior. Over the years, Syed had maintained his innocence amid several appeals and attempts to overturn his conviction.
In 2014, a true crime podcast titled “Serial” focused on the details of the case and a number of Syed’s loved ones who have continued to fight for his freedom. The episodes made headlines as interest grew in Syed and his legal issues. Two years after its release, Serial had been downloaded more than 100 million times.
After more than two decades in prison, Syed’s convictions were overturned by a Baltimore Circuit judge in September 2022. The highest court in Maryland vacated his murder, kidnapping, robbery and false imprisonment convictions. Syed was released without bail and placed on home detention with GPS location monitoring.
Assistant Public Defender Erica Suter addressed the major milestone in Syed’s case shortly after he was released from prison.
