10 True Crime Documentaries That Got Cases Reopened
2. Serial
Sarah Koenig’s Serial is a now legendary podcast series, which released its first season back in 2014. This season covered the controversial case of Adnan Syed, who was convicted of the murder of his classmate, Hae Min Lee, in 2000. The murder occurred in 1997 when Adnan was just 17 and, through vigorous interrogation and difficulty remembering certain details, he ultimately received a life sentence for Lee’s murder.
Koenig got in contact with Syed, as well as a number of his friends and classmates to discuss what had happened with the case. She conducted a lengthy investigation and found that some details just didn’t add up. Over the season, Koenig found that cell phone tracing evidence presented by the prosecution had been unreliable, that Syed had been subject to hours of forceful interrogation, and even found an alibi for him on the day that the murder took place.
As a result of Serial, a judge reviewed Syed’s case and granted him a retrial in 2016, on the grounds that he had received ineffective counsel. However, the state appealed against the retrial and so far, their appeal has been upheld. In 2019 the Supreme Court rejected a counter-appeal from Syed to have his retrial go ahead and, for now, Syed remains behind bars.