Summary of Serial | Season 01, Episode 09 | To Be Suspected

00:00:00 - 00:45:00

In this episode of "Serial," the podcast examines the possible reasons why Reasonable Doubt exists in the case of Adnan Syed, who was convicted of murdering his ex-girlfriend, Hae Min Lee. Various factors are examined, including the cell tower evidence, the call to Hae's phone, and Jay's knowledge of where Adnan's car was. However, despite these factors, Serial's narrator still has doubts about Adnan's guilt.

• 00:00:00 In this episode, Sarah Koenig discusses new information she's learned about the case of Adnan Syed. Apparently, Laura Estrada Sandoval, a friend of Adnan's, told Sarah that there never was a payphone at Best Buy, and that, even if there was, Jay would have noticed it because he used to go there a lot and steal CDs. Additionally, Laura hypothesizes that the police may have missed a detail in their investigation--namely, that the phone call from Adnan to Jay that led to his arrest occurred at a payphone at Best Buy.
• 00:05:00 This video covers the events that took place on January 13, 1999, the day Serial's main character, Adnan Syed, was arrested. It covers the various people who said they saw or talked to Adnan that day, including his best friend, Hayley, and his ex-girlfriend, Summer. It is revealed that there may not have been a phone booth at Best Buy that afternoon, which would mean the crime didn't happen there. Furthermore, it is revealed that Adnan's friend Kris saw the crime happen in the parking lot of the Woodlawn Public Library. Finally, it is revealed that Adnan's friend Aisha saw him after school that day and told the police, who recorded the time as 5:12 p.m.
• 00:10:00 In this episode, serial viewers learn that Aisha spoke to Adnan on the evening of the 13th and that he was upset that she had told the police to check in with him. Aisha also says that her memory of who called whom may be mistaken. It is possible that her call to Adnan before he spoke to the police may have been before he spoke to the cops, not after.
• 00:15:00 The 1-paragraph summary of "Serial" Season 01, Episode 09, which is about an on getting arrested, suggests that the on may have been involved in the murder of Hae Min Lee. The on seems to have been very distraught and had no idea that the police would come to their house to ask about her relationship with Adnan Syed.
• 00:20:00 Adnan tells the detectives about a man who was kind to him, a white lady who was driving the cruiser, the eighth-grade teacher, and a friend who helped him with his case. He says that he was never able to forget any of these kindnesses, and that they nestled into his brain forever.
• 00:25:00 In this episode of "Serial," Krista tells the story of her relationship with Adnan, who she knew from high school. She describes their developing friendship, their shared love of music, and the significant moments in their relationship--including when he was sentenced to life in prison for the murder of her friend, Hae. Krista provides compelling evidence that Adnan is not guilty of the crime, and she is clear-eyed and thoughtful about the implications of her testimony.
• 00:30:00 Serial's first episode of Season 1 begins with a letter from Adnan to Krista in which he explains that he's been through a lot recently and is looking for her opinion. Krista writes back and tells Adnan that she's accepting of him and that she's happy he's been able to get help. At the sentencing, while listening to Hayes mother, Adnan realizes for the first time that people on his side of the courtroom see him as hated. He writes a letter to Krista revealing that he's been considering suicide and asks her to help him find a way to forgive himself. Krista writes back and tells Adnan that she's been trying to find his family, but has had no luck. She also reveals that she's heard from a friend that they want nothing to do with Serial.
• 00:35:00 Serial's protagonist, Adnan, tells his lawyer that he is "just sorry for all the pain that this has caused everyone." The nonce attorney at sentencing, who disagreed with the attorney, tells the judge that this wasn't a crime of passion. The judge then sentences Adnan to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
• 00:40:00 In this episode, the Serial podcast examines the possible reasons why Reasonable Doubt (a legal term meaning that a person has a doubt about whether someone committed a crime) exists in the case of Adnan Syed, who was convicted of murdering his ex-girlfriend, Nisha. Various factors are examined, including the cell tower evidence, the call to Nisha's phone, and Jay's knowledge of where Adnan's car was. However, despite these factors, Serial's narrator still has doubts about Adnan's guilt.
• 00:45:00 In this episode, the team investigates a possible murder and examines the evidence. They find that there may be more to the story than first appears.