how old was jay wilds in 1999 Lees mother, Youn Wha Kim, says she moved to America from Korea to give her kids a better life. Where is Jay Wilds? The Adnan Syed Saga Isn't Over Yet - Elite Daily Photos from Serial: People to Know From the Adnan Syed Case - E! Online December 30, 2013: Syed's petition for post-conviction relief is denied. She was still in the trunk. He said, Im gonna drive back down there [to the grave]. In an interview with The Intercept_, Jay Wilds alleged that. New information in The Case Against Adnan Syed that wasn't featured in Because at the time I was convinced that I would be going to jail for a long time if he turned me in for drug dealing, especially to high school kids. And hes like, Ive gotta put her car somewhere. So I follow him around for a few minutes, and he just picks a place at random behind some row houses, leaves her car, gets into his car, takes me home. DNA Cleared Adnan Syed, Prosecutor Says: 'Serial' Subject Served More The popular podcast detailed an investigation into the 15-year-old murder of . Just after his arrest, McClain writes a letter to Syed and details talking to him in the library on January 13, Serial reported. Then he calls me and says, Come pick me up., So I go to pick him up, and when I get there he says, Oh shit, I did it. I say, Did what? He says, I killed Hae.. Syed was arrested that same day, aged 17. Hes gone with Haes car. Wilds and his family have tried to stay out of the spotlight, with Wilds citing the danger his cooperating with the police puts his family in, even though he claims he tried to stonewall the cops for as long as possible until they broke him down. Wilds alleged that Syed had told him he had murdered Lee. Though Wilds testimony seemed to have been trusted implicitly by Syeds jury, the Serial podcast shining a light on the key details of Wilds claims led many listeners to believe Wilds was not exactly truthful and that even the slightest bit of questioning could have unraveled his story. Hae Min Lee's body was found buried in a shallow grave in Maryland in February 1999. March 9, 2019, 2:00 PM. I dont necessarily know if he meant to kill Hae before he did it or if it was a sudden moment thing, but looking at his life, from what I saw, he seemed to be far out of his realm when it came to Hae leaving him. Syed went on trial in February 2000 and was convicted of the murder of his girlfriend Hae Min Lee. . Jay Wilds and Adnan Syed were reportedlynot close friends but the Woodlawn High School seniors fates would eventually become inextricably linked through a brutal Jan. 1999 murder case, when Syed was arrested and ultimately convicted of killing his ex-girlfriend, Hae Min Lee. Baltimore police were already focusing their investigation on Syed after an anonymous tip told them to look at Lees ex. Wilds picks him up and the two go to a friends house. Syeds lawyers asked the nations highest court to look into reversing the states decision. There is a specific point where I became involved in this. November 20, 2014: Syeds family gives their first interview, Syeds brother Yusef talks to CBS This Morning and admits he listens to the show. Court Case Of Jay Wilds Testimony - 1079 Words | Internet Public Library The hugely popular 12-part podcast "Serial" investigated the 1999 murder of teenager Hae Min Lee and the murder conviction the following year of her ex-boyfriend, Adnan Syed, who is currently. The trial, which resulted in a life sentence, has resurfaced after a judge overturned Adnan's conviction. Adnan says, Just help me dig the hole. And Im still thinking, Inner-city black guy, selling pot to high school kids. The cops are going to fry me. In Februaryof 2000, Syed was found guilty of murdering Lee. In Adnan's call log was Jay Wilds, who talked to detectives on February 28, 1999. New hope for convicted murderer of his brilliant high-school girlfriend The kind of reporting we do is essential to democracy, but it is not easy, cheap, or profitable. Wilds's testimony played a giant part in convicting Syed of murdering his high school girlfriend, Hae Min Lee in 1999. (Wilds would later lead the police to Lees car, parked on a residential street.) On Monday afternoon, a Baltimore judge vacated Adnan Syed's murder conviction, freeing Syed after 23 years behind bars. Im going to be late for practice, so just drop me off. Sellers had a previous record as an alleged streaker. Its where Im from. Jays post-Serial interviews with The Intercept: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3. Coverage of the latest true crime stories and famous cases explained, as well as the best TV shows, movies and podcasts in the genre. Phinn's decision came after prosecutors told the court they lost faith in Syed's conviction in light of new evidence and violations in the governments turning over evidence. Treatment of Serial's Adnan Syed Is a National Shame Based on Syeds indictment date, the CrimeStoppers reward should have been paid in June, but it was not paid until November. On Jan. 13, 1999, Hae Min Lee, an 18-year-old highschool student from Baltimore, went missing. Please logout and login again. I would like to forgive Adnan Syed, but as of now, I just don't know how I could, she says. Jay Wilds spoke to The Intercept about the case for an article published Monday. But he didnt call me unless he needed something. Four weeks later, her half-buried body was found at Leakin. Syed was sentenced to life in prison. Syed then picks up food on his way to meet his dad at the mosque for evening prayers, Serial reported. Hae was dead before she got to my house. How Did Jay Wilds Kill Hae - 982 Words | Bartleby Get all your true crime news from Oxygen. Clearly Sarah Koenig was leaning towards Adnans innocence and she got sidetracked by Jay a little bit, too. I guess I was being kind of a jury on whether or not people needed to be involved or whatever, but these people didnt have anything to do with it, and I knew they didnt have anything to do with it. I wake up as soon as they put it on, he said. But that, according to what I learned later, is probably not what happened. The thing is that the story Jay told at trial is not the same story Jay told police the first time.". 1999, when police . Maintenance worker Alonzo Sellers, known as Mr. Adnan Syed's Legal Journey: a Timeline - The New York Times Its starting to get dark, so between 3p.m. note: Adnan worked as an emergency medical technician, not a paramedic.]. And it was really hard for him to deal with being on the losing end. Im also thinking, Whats making him think Im totally okay with this? Like if a car goes by, and I jump out and wave at them saying, Hey, this is a murderer right here. But I didnt. Though Syed said Wilds wasn't with him and had his cell phone at 3:30, his phone called a girl named Nisha, whom only Syed, and not Wilds, knew. Adnan was convicted with evidence of his cell phone . 'Case Against Adnan Syed' Finale Reveals No DNA, a Plea Deal - Vulture But they were just as shocked. Adnan questioned in the documentary why Jay would leave. He did, after all, give multiple conflicting locations for where the murder took place and where the body was found. SERIAL EXCLUSIVE: The Teachers of Woodlawn High Speak Out Even though he and Syed were allegedlyjust acquaintances, Wilds police interviews and witness testimony would ultimately be key to convicting Syed despite his storys inconsistencies and contradictions. In both, Syed's guilt is questioned, as is Wilds's statements. I was not sure. on about your day, ask yourself: How likely is it that the story you just read would have been produced by a different news outlet if The Intercept hadnt done it? The Serial podcast threw some question marks over Wilds' version of events.. Family friend and attorney Rabia Chaudry asks McClain to write an affidavit after Syed is convicted, Serial reported. Lunch period 11:15-11:30 a.m. Jay drops Adnan back off at school. I don't know what happened, what occurred between them that day," he said of Lee's death. As the state's star witness, Jay. I played lacrosse, was a bit of a jock. The popularised podcast series Serial has been central to shedding light on the Adnan Syed case. March 25, 2000: McClain writes an affidavit. View our online Press Pack. 11:15-12:50 p.m. Free period 12:50-2:15 p.m. It helped fan the flames of this story that people had already moved on from, Wilds told The Intercept. About a month later, police uncovered her body in a nearby park; an autopsywould later find that she was choked to death. Moreover, a detective named Bill Ritz who repeatedly interviewed Jay Wilds was later accused in a separate case of manipulating and fabricating evidence and not disclosing exculpatory evidence. Jay Wilds, the key witness in the Serial murder case, has broken his silence at last. When police were investigating Lees murder, CrimeStoppers offered a $3,075 reward for any information that would lead to the arrest of the murderer. When the Serial podcast premiered in October of 2014, many listeners were shocked to find that almost the entirety of the . Jay Wilds, Adnan Syed's former classmate who was called as a star witness in the latter's murder trial, reportedly testified that he helped his friend hide the victim's body. 824 Words4 Pages. 'Serial' Subject Takes HBO, 'Serial' Subject Adnan Syed Will Get a New Trial. The teacher, Mr. Brown, didnt know either Syed or Lee, raising eyebrows at his participation in the investigation. December 29 2014, 12:55 p.m. On Jan. 13, 1999, Hae Min Lee, an 18-year-old high school student from Baltimore, went missing. In 1999 18-year-old high school student Hae Min Lee was murdered. Because Pusateris testimony corroborated Wilds (and also changed over time), many listeners came to believe that Pusateri also knew more (or less?) I worked a lot. Wilds, who was an acquaintance of Syed, confessed to helping Syed bury. Wilds stated that he helped the 17-year-old Syed, who was accused of killing his ex-girlfriend Hae Min Lee in 1999, bury her body, which was later discovered in Baltimore's Leakin Park. He exited the Baltimore courthouse to deafening cheers. The Deal With Serial's Jay? He's Pissed Off, Mucks Up Our Timeline Wilds' testimony in. Even documentary director Amy Berg openly admitted to questioning Wilds narrative of the events in the case after listening to Serial., The whole Jay storywas so confusing. Five Theories About Who Killed Hae Min Lee - Men's Health Adnan Syed: A Complete Timeline of His Trial, Appeal and - Biography Is Riley Keough Singing in Daisy Jones & The Six? What was your life likeduring1998 and 1999? Syed was just 19 years old when he was convicted of murdering his former high school girlfriend Hae Min Lee and sentenced to life in prison. Jay chose not to be formally interviewed by either This American Life or by Serial host and producer, Sarah Koenig. I might have sat next to him in a class, and joked or something. Wilds, who gave police multipleinterviews and testified in court, was first questioned on Feb. 28, 1999, just hours before police arrested Syed on suspicion of Lees murder. Create a free profile to get unlimited access to exclusive videos, breaking news, sweepstakes, and more! He was a little pompous, a little arrogant, but he seemed really driven as far as his academics, but all those magnet students were. Wilds was also an adult who sold marijuana to high school kids, which made him vulnerable. To better understand this, we need to look back at Feb. 12 . Everything You Need to Know About the Adnan Syed Murder Case - E! Online Syed was sentenced to life in prison plus 30 years on February 25, 2000 for first degree murder,kidnapping, false imprisonment and robbery. I was pretty distraught, fucked up, feeling guilty for not saying nothing. Jay feels strongly that he was unfairly depicted by Koenig and that she painted a highly misleading portrayal of him and his role in the case. COMING NEXT: PART 2, Jays theory on the anonymous caller, why he agreed to testify in the states case against Adnan, and how Serial showed up at his front door. Im pretty sure it was my fear of going to prison for having a bunch of weed in my grandmas house. Jay firmly believes that he was wrongfully represented on the podcast. And then I would only give them information pertaining to my interaction with someone or where I was. In part 2, Wilds shares his thoughts on the actions he took following the murder, as well as his choice to remain uninvolved as This American Life producers Julie Snyder and Sarah Koenig pieced. And I looked real good again, and thats when I seen what looked like a foot. He later becomes a suspect because he walked 127 feet to find a place to use the restroom. Three days later, Baltimore Police received an anonymous tip that Syed was responsible for the murder. Now, after years of controversy, a Baltimore court has overturned Syed's conviction after a judge ruled that the legal proceedings were violated during the initial trial. As for Lees family, all they knew was that she didnt show up to pick up her cousin, which is when they reported her missing. Why did you agree to help Adnan bury Hae? Serial podcast gets a sequel as Jay Wilds breaks silence How old was Adnan when he went to prison in 1999? A big part of the Serial podcast is to speculate on Adnans motive. Love Island's Olivia Hawkins breaks silence as she returns to the UK, Loose Women star lined up to be Strictly's first contestant in wheelchair, GMB's Kate Garraway reveals crippling cost of caring for her husband Derek, Stephen Bear 'broke behind bars' as his company is shut down before he's jailed, News Group Newspapers Limited in England No. Syed Adnan, then 17, was convicted of murdering Hae Min Lee, 18, in 1999 after a high school romance in Baltimore, MD. Going to work on February 9, 1999, a school maintenance worker stops at Leakin Park to urinate and finds Hae's body. When asked about the inconsistencies in his stories, Jay Wilds told The Intercept_ that. Well first of all, I wasnt openly willing to cooperate with the police. There was never a real friendship. The judge gave prosecutors 30 days to proceed with a new trial or drop the case. By signing up, I agree to receive emails from The Intercept and to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. There were several reasons given for his release on September 19, 2022, including the prosecution losing confidence in Wilds' evidence. Heres everything we know about Jay Wilds before the premiere of HBOs documentary series, The Case Against Adnan Syed. I remember Adnan standing next to me. January 1, 1999: Lee and Don Clinedinst go on their first date. I dont think it meant that much to her. It doesnt seem like enough of a reason to not talk to the police. July 1, 2016. Undisclosed proffers that Wilds was going to use the reward money to purchase the motorcycle, but Brown says he sold it to someone else. He also said he helpedSyed dispose of Lees body in Leakin Park, where she was found four weeks after she was last seen alive on January 13, 1999. Theyre gonna pin me to the fucking wall. Without Jay's testimony, it is highly unlikely that the state could have ever taken him to trial. Syed is given the chance to overturn the Baltimore City Circuit Court ruling that denied him post-conviction relief, thanks to the Maryland Court of Special Appeals, Vulture reported. They had to chase me around before they could corner me to talk to me, and there came a point where I was just sick of talking to them. Be the first one to comment on this story. Photo credit: HBO. Join half a million readers enjoying Newsweek's free newsletters. Adnan Syed trial: Jay Wilds witness stories and all the - Metro Was it in the Best Buy parking lot? Like she was a junior in college. Ronald Lee Moore: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know | Heavy.com It remains true today." Now, the case: Undisclosed claims Wilds may have wanted the reward money to buy a motorcyle - something police may have known, too. Mr. Syed, 41, had been serving a life sentence after he was convicted in the 1999 murder of his high school classmate Hae Min Lee. The star witness at Syeds trial was Jay Wilds, a former classmate who testified that he helpedSyed dispose of Lees body. Serial produced a time line which showed the conflicts betweeen just a few of Jays different versions of eventsfor January 13, 1999. Adnan Syed's ex-classmate Jay Wilds' involved in 1999 murder "The Case Against Adnan Syed" also notes that Wilds contradicted himself on the witness stand when it came to the story he told police about helping Syed dig the hole: At first, he said he met Syed at a mall parking lot and then went to Leakin Park to bury the body, but later, Wilds said Syed showed him Lees corpse in a Best Buy parking lot. The case was covered in-depth in the first season of the podcast by host Sarah Koenig. . J ay Wilds was the key eyewitness in the murder case against Adnan Syed, which Sarah Koenig explored in the course of her podcast-gone-viral Serial. I pick him up he doesnt have any car with him. It wasnt just like I was selling a nickel bag here and there. Apparently, Wilds had been inquiring about the sale price of a teachers motorcycle, which Kelly Blue Book puts at $3,000. Hae Min Lee's Family Would've OK'd Adnan's Release If Evidence Was Solid I follow him halfway back down the hill, park, smoke some cigarettes. I said, Alright, cool. I dropped him off at school, went to the mall, then when I was done, I go back to my friend Jenns house, where I normally go, sit and smoke with my friend. Jay's story was wildly inconsistent. Syed's release on September 19, 2022, was attributed to various factors, including the prosecution losing faith in Wilds' testimony. Did you go to Leakin Park immediately after agreeing to help? He said that the idea of Best Buy came from the police. In Serial you are depicted as a petty weed dealer. Meanwhile, Wilds version of the day changed throughout his interviews and testimony. Killing of Hae Min Lee - Wikipedia In the podcast Koenig pointedly challenged Jays account of events and his motivation for assisting Adnan. Hearst Magazine Media, Inc. All Rights Reserved. It all revolves around Jay," lawyer and Syed family friend, Wilds, who gave police multipleinterviews and testified in court, was first questioned on Feb. 28, 1999, just hours before police arrested Syed on suspicion of Lees murder. Lee disappeared on January 13, 1999. This service is provided on News Group Newspapers' Limited's Standard Terms and Conditions in accordance with our Privacy & Cookie Policy. Baltimore City Circuit Court judge Melissa M. Phinn vacated Syed's conviction, effectively setting him free. Fellow Woodlawn student Jay Wilds testified that he helped Syed bury Lee. Everything We Know About Jay Wilds From HBO's Serial Documentary When I pick him up at Best Buy, hes telling me her car is somewhere there, and that he did this in the parking lot. The student told the official that he was suppose[d] to get a ride home from the victim, but he got detained at school and felt that she just got tired of waiting and left, according to the 2019 appeal. Your login session has expired. And thats not necessarily mebut that is my family, that is my uncles and cousins. The Intercept is an independent nonprofit news outlet. Yes we dig for about 40 minutes and we dig and dig, and hes digging less and less. He says, OK, follow me halfway back down the hill [towards the grave site], so he doesnt have to walk all the way back up the hill to get back to me in his car. A majority of the state's evidence against Adnan comes from Jay Wilds' testimony. Lee had disappeared on Jan. 13, and almost a month later, on Feb. 9, her body was found by a passerby in Baltimores Leakin Park. I know I didnt kill her. Hes 17 at the time but charged with first-degree murder as an adult. Hearst Magazine Media, Inc. Site contains certain content that is owned A&E Television Networks, LLC. Posted on July 4, 2022 by . Didnt say that much. Its while hes there that Officer Scott Adcock calls Syed asking if he knew where Lee was. Wilds also makes clear in the interview that Baltimore isnt the place where one who ran afoul with the law wanted to get hooked by the cops or work with them both options were not good. You follow me some of the way, and then Ill take care of it.. The case is reopened to take into account McClains new testimony, new cell phone data and allegations of ineffective assistance of counsel as well as prosecutorial misconduct, according to Harpers Bazaar. If Wilds were meeting with the cops before this official interview, its completely possible he would have been coached, as Simpson suggests. Cathy has people over when we get there. April Wolfe. Also Jay had no motive. Jay Wilds is credible on the ultimate fact : r/serialpodcast - reddit They did not have his permission to record, so we do not hear his voice. And I found that to be a bit of a slap in the face. I think there was another dude or something, or whatever. Lee had disappeared on Jan. 13, and almost a month later, on Feb. 9, her body was found by a passerby in Baltimore's Leakin Park. He was having a hard enough time with that itself. Heres abasic timeline of the eventsof Jan. 13,according to Wilds first sit-down with police on Feb. 28, 1999: He gets a call from Syed around 10:45 a.m. on Jan. 13; an hour later, Syed arrives at Wilds house in his car and they both go to Baltimores Westview Mall, where Syed tells Wilds hes going to kill Hae because hes angry about their breakup; at 12:30 p.m., Wilds drops off Syed at school and keeps his car; at 3:40 p.m., Syed tells Wilds to meet him at a strip off Edmonton Ave., and 20 minutes later Syed shows Wilds Haes dead body in the trunk of her own car. Syed has maintained his innocence since he was arrested for Lee's murder in February 1999, when he was a 17-year-old in high school. And I said, Hey, I need to run to the mall cause I need to get a gift for Stephanie., He said then, No, I gotta go do something. In February of 2000, 18-year-old Adnan Syed was found guilty of murdering his ex-girlfriend Hae Min Lee, who went missing the year before. The trial begins the second week of December and quickly ends as a mistrial, the court appeals papers say. In his testimony at the second trial, he says that he and Syed drove to Security Square Mall and claims that Syed reportedly told him he was going to kill Lee.