“Serial is about the basics: love and death and justice and truth.” -Sarah Koenig

WHAT WE KNOW: THE FACTS OF THE CASE

On January 13, 1999, eighteen year old Hae Min Lee disappeared from Woodlawn High School in Baltimore, Maryland at around 3:00 pm. Her corpse was discovered on February 8, 1999 at Leakin Park and identified two days later. Her ex-boyfriend, Adnan Masoud Syed was arrested and convicted of her murder. In June 2000, he received a life sentence.

THE KEY PLAYERS

Sarah Koenig Host of Serial She was asked to investigate a 15 year old murder mystery by Rabia Chaudry She and her team sifted through boxes and boxes of court transcripts, legal documents, police reports and investigator’s notes to discover the truth. First released Serial in October 2014, Koenig tells the story behind Hae Min Lee’s murder and Adnan Syed’s conviction in 12 weekly installments.

Hae Min Lee 18 year old Senior Played Girls’ Lacrosse Last seen at Woodlawn High School on January 13, 1999 at about 3:00 pm Her body was found by “Mr. S” in Leakin Park, outside Baltimore, Maryland on February 8, 1999

Adnan Syed 17 year old Senior Ex-boyfriend of Hae Min Lee Honor student, football player, and Junior Prom King Well-liked by his peers Convicted of first- degree murder in 2000 for the kidnapping and death of Hae Min Lee Serving a life sentence

Jay Wilds State’s key witness against Adnan Syed Said he helped bury Hae’s body in Leakin Park Boyfriend of Stephanie, friend of Adnan Graduated a year before Syed and smoked weed with Adnan occasionally

Rabia Chaudry Older sister of Adnan’s best friend, Saad. Syed family friend and an attorney who has been working to prove Adnan’s innocence since his 2000 conviction

Asia McLean Classmate of Adnan Claims she saw Adnan in the library across the street from Woodlawn High School at the time of Hae’s killing Her statement never made it to trial and she asserts that no attorney ever called her.

Cristina Gutierrez Adnan’s trial attorney Had a great reputation as a tough defense attorney Was disbarred for mismanaging client money in 2001, a year after Adnan’s trial

THE SUPPORTING CAST

Hae’s “People” AISHA, Hae’s Best Friend: remembers Adnan being possessive with Hae DEBBIE, classmate and friend of Hae: told police she remembers seeing Adnan at school around 3:30 and states that Hae told her she was meeting her boyfriend after school DON, Hae’s boyfriend: 20 years old and worked with Hae at Lens Crafters BECKY, mutual friend of Hae and Adnan: remembers Adnan and Hae talking about a ride after school-that Hae told him she couldn’t take him anywhere because she had something to do after school

Adnan’s “People” STEPHANIE, Adnan’s friend and Jay’s girlfriend: Hae disappeared on Stephanie’s birthday; Jay borrowed Adnan’s cellphone and car during school hours so he could buy Stephanie a present. SAAD, Adnan’s best friend: Both he and Adnan were doing things young Muslim men weren’t supposed to do, like date girls and smoke weed. LAURA, friend of Hae, Adnan, Jay, and Stephanie: She states that she never believed Adnan was guilty, but didn’t think Jay would “lie about something like that.” NISHA, girl Adnan was “talking to”: met on December 31, A call from Adnan’s cell phone to Nisha’s house was made at 3:32 pm the day Hae disappeared.

The Law DETECTIVES RITZ & MACGILLIVARY: they interviewed Jay at least FOUR times and knew that his story kept changing KEVIN URICK: Prosecutor of “The People of Maryland vs. Adnan Masoud Syed” case

Koenig’s Key Questions How can you know a person’s character? How can you tell what they’re capable of?