‘The Case Against Adnan Syed’: New DNA Results Raise the Question of Syed’s Innocence — Again

From its first episode, HBO’s docuseries The Case Against Adnan Syed has been teasing an Episode 4 bombshell, and last night it delivered. “Time Is the Killer” followed this series’ private investigation team as they tested 12 DNA samples that were taken as evidence but never examined by the court. Adnan Syed’s DNA was found on none of them.

In January of 1999, high schooler Hae Min Lee was murdered in Baltimore County, Maryland. Her ex-boyfriend Adnan Syed was eventually arrested and convicted for her murder and sentenced to a life sentence plus 30 years. However, no one could have predicted that this particular case would become one of the most discussed crimes in modern history.

It was Season 1 of the podcast Serial that brought Syed’s case to national attention. Host Sarah Koenig never started her true crime podcast to exonerate Syed’s name or definitively point the finger at him. She did it in an attempt to get to the truth behind one of Maryland’s murkiest cases, one riddled with conflicting timelines, a major witness who was known to pathologically lie, and a lack of evidence to convict Syed. Koenig was never able to get to the truth behind this case, but last night The Case Against Adnan Syed seemed to get a little closer.

The fourth episode explains that 12 samples that were found from the scene of the crime were never tested in court, including samples from Lee’s fingernails, her body, and her car. As part of the state’s investigation, these samples were tested. Syed’s DNA wasn’t found on any of them. This revelation is part of what led to the state offering Syed a plea deal.

While this bit of news may seem good for Syed, it’s not without its own asterisk — as happens with all things in this case. The state investigation was unable to connect the stray DNA that was found at the scene of the crime to anyone else. That means if Syed didn’t do it, her killer’s DNA is likely still on her body; but whoever committed the crime has never been arrested. The investigators ended the series once again wondering about Lee’s former boyfriend Don Clinedinst’s potential involvement.

It’s also a potential breakthrough in the case that comes too late. In the summer of 2018 the Court of Appeals heard both the State’s appeal and Syed’s cross appeal based on evidence that was uncovered thanks to Serial and the lawyers who have worked on Syed’s case since it came to national attention. On March 8, 2019, just a few days before The Case Against Adnan Syed premiered, the Maryland Court of Appeals made its decision. Syed was not granted a new trial.

In response to that ruling, Syed’s attorney Justin Brown released a statement saying, “We are devastated by the Court of Appeals’ decision, but we will not give up on Adnan Syed.” It’s unclear what other legal options Syed has now, but it’s safe to say his supporters and team will continue to pursue this case.

Update: An earlier version of this article stated that the DNA was tested by QRI, not the state investigation. The article has since been updated.

Watch The Case Against Adnan Syed on HBO Go and HBO NOW