She said that she was a reporter from New York, and that she worked on a show called This American Life. And I knew there was only one thing that anyone would want to come and talk to me about as a reporter, you know? Im worried for the safety of my family, he told the site. Im worried for the safety of my family. But Oropeza declined the request. Thats the only motive I can imagine - that Jay was involved, could possibly go down for her murder, so made it out with a lesser charge. In the years since Serial, picking apart a criminal case for potential flaws has become a common starting point for crime podcasts after all, the justice system has no shortage of problematic cases. He is the son of David Williams and Althea Williams. I thought since I didnt cooperate with her she would just make a little blurb about me in the story and then she would move on to whatever this new evidence was or whatever Adnan had to tell her. I was talking to one of my friends, who had just recently gotten over a drug addiction, who she tried to talk to about this case. However, during one season 10 episode, Good Grief, DeDe died in her sleep, allegedly during a trip with her womens group to Greenland. What did you imagine was going to happen if you didnt talk to her? At his time of waiving, Chicago Bulls gave him $3 million but didnt pay his salary due to his breach of contract of riding a motorbike. The Baltimore Sun reported that in The Case Against Adnan Syed, Chaudry makes the allegation that police helped Wilds with his story to lead to Syed's conviction. It remains to be seen whether he will want to address anything that might be raised once The Case Against Adnan Syed has aired. Furthermore, he also posted a video of his proposal on his Instagram account. It helped fan the flames of this story that people had already moved on from," Wilds said. The two announced their . After years of disagreements, they got a divorce. I also got a message around that time from a friend on Facebook saying that some lady is asking about Adnan. Thats all it takes to support the journalism you rely on. Later, he enrolled at Duke University and played college basketball there. When she came back with a card that didnt even have her name on it, she apologized for bombarding us, and said that she felt bad that it made us uncomfortable, and that she was really sorry. I dont know for sure. Since then, he couldnt make it to the professional team. After Serial aired, Wilds participated in a three-part interview with The Intercept. 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 serving a life sentence. He told me it was really painful for him, and he didnt want to go back and revisit this crap. Youre a person who went through a traumatic thing. But either way, the result was clear: In the national obsession over the guy who was wrongfully convicted of a murder, the murdered high school girl Hae Min Lee got lost. I might have sat next to him in a class, and joked or something. Elsewhere in the interview, Clair spoke about how polar opposite James is to the sex-obsessed teen of Jay who he portrayed. As of now, Jay and Nikki have been spotted several times in the public and media. Each season explored a nonfictional story in weekly installments. Adnan Syed is currently serving life in prison, plus 30 years, for a murder he claims he didn't commit, and he may not have ended up there if it weren't for his former classmate, Jay Wilds.. ", When asked why he had decided to speak out away from the podcast, he explained: "Im trying to clear my name. Today, its standard procedure to tell the story of the victim, to try to make the audience understand who was lost and who is impacted by the crime. Its necessary for me to sleep at night. Jay is pretty active on social media such as Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter. Throughout interviews with Koenig, Syed was always willing to get introspective, even philosophical. Without Wilds sharing his side of the story for The Case Against Adnan Syed, everything is all speculation. All rights reserved. When fans first met DeDe, she tackled Gloria inside the Dunphy house. Jay has a height of 6 feet 2 inches and weighs 88kg. Wilds, whose account of events 15 years ago was challenged by Serial host Sarah Koenig in the 12-part podcast, went on to admit he doesnt think he couldve done anything different to have saved Lee. For more information, please see our So why would he confide in Jay about killing his ex gf if they werent that close? "On seven separate occasions over the last five months, we have requested an interview with Jay, either on the record or off. I asked them to leave at this point because they were upsetting my wife and kids. According to The Intercept, this was only part one of Wilds interview. Jay Wilds is a former classmate of Adnan Syed from Baltimore, Maryland. Photo Illustration: Koenig: Meredith Heuer; Jay Wilds: Natasha Vargas-Cooper; Syed: Imgur, Natasha Vargas-Cooper[emailprotected]theintercept.org@natashavc. Thats not what this is about. A couple of days after their wedding, they attended a party at Brooklyn Botanical Gardens and revealed that they are expecting and soon going to be parents. Im not using your last name, and I wont say where you live or anything about your family. "Im definitely not recommending it to them, if they find it on their own thats up to them. This is how Adnan knew Jay. I didnt have anything to add. Part of the a360media Entertainment Group. The case of the murder of Hae Min Lee is about one life lost and another one ruined, with family members and loved ones feeling the lasting impact of both. I believe that Mr. B. had some information that we dont have, possibly because he was a religious leader at the mosque, and Adnan talked to him like a priest taking a confession [Ed. And thats the only time I commented directly on the case to her. She cussed me out, said how could I let that girl lay out there in the snow for all that time when I knew where she was? And for a time that made me feel better, but it never felt goodit did feel necessary. I think the truth is important, and Im trying to tell itnot for entertainment value. 'Dissatisfying' is the best word I can use for that," Berg told Vulture, before later adding: "There was enough doubt for me to want to give this a real close look.". If youre telling the truth, then what harm would it be to talk to Koenig? To: But it didnt stick with me, and I didnt look into it much further. Editors picks Related If Adnan wants to take the stand now and explain that away, let him. I told [Syed] that I wouldnt touch her car, or any of her possessions, and I say, Fk it. "My wife told me to go inside because 'He won't . The story is about him. She recalled a time that she claims her relationship became . That is, until her death during season 10. I was talking to one of my friends, who had just recently gotten over a drug addiction, who she tried to talk to about this case. Rolling Stone is a part of Penske Media Corporation. December 30, 2014. . There was enough doubt for me to want to give this a real close look," Berg said. I dont want to talk about this for entertainment purposes. In 2000 . The former weed dealer explained to The Intercept when he first met Syed in 1998 at the age of 16, he didnt trust him at first and he seemed a little pompous and arrogant. Wilds, who testified that he was with Syed the day he allegedly murdered Lee and helped dig her grave, also said he was never really friends with the now convicted murderer. This fact eliminates all random killer (s) (Roy Davis or Mr. S or Space Aliens). Currently, he serves as a college basketball analyst for ESPN. After denying Serial host Sarah Koenig an interview, Wilds has finally broken his silence to The Intercept. I told Sarah that the only one who deserves any type of closure from any of this is her mom. He is the son of David Williams and Althea Williams. I also wanted to thank you for taking the time to think it over. He is married and a father of one. I firmly believe Jenn Pusateri and Jay Wilds were victims, in a sense, victims of bad police work and provided false testimony . Do you remember that moment? But the documentary will once again examine the reported inconsistencies that were in Wilds' retelling of the events related to Lee's murder when it premieres on March 10. James' Jay character in the Channel 4 sitcom was certainly the rudest out of his uncool group of friends, with famous lines such as 'the p*** patrol' and 'bus w******' still being quoted to this day. The problem was, when discussing his version of events during The Intercept interview, Wilds appeared to change his story once again. Again, Im not out to vilify anyone no ones talking about revenge or retribution here. I felt ashamed. During the trial, Jay testified that he helped Syed dispose of Lees body. Jay Wilds, a classmate of both Lee and Syed, played a huge role in the case. The interview circulated. She revealed during her interview with the investigators that she dated Wilds at one point in her life. In case youve missed it, Wilds testified against Syed in 2000, claiming that Syed murdered his ex-girlfriend Hae Min Lee in 1999. My wife told me to go inside because He wont fire at me, Im a woman. His wife, 25-year-old Sonia Argentina Guzman, was at the door when the shooter arrived. During Gloria and Jays wedding, DeDe drank too much and was carried out by other members of the family, kicking the cake in the process. My wife reads the transcripts and tells me about them. Alas, it wasnt difficult at all. Jay began his basketball career at his high school. I get that its a big decision. As part of a statement in response to Wilds' interview, Serial's Julie Snyder said: "Our reporting is solid and we believe we accurately and fairly represented Jays statements to police and his testimony at trial. When he was interviewed in 2014, Wilds was living with his wife and their young children in a "two-story suburban home," according to The Intercept reporter Natasha Vargas-Cooper. Jay was born onSeptember 10, 1981, in, Plainfield, New Jersey, United States. He spoke with the police during the investigation. This made Wilds testimony that much shakier. Just hit 'Like' on our Digital Spy Facebook page and 'Follow' on our @digitalspy Instagram and Twitter account. It was in this relationship that he had Mitchell (Jesse Tyler Ferguson) and Claire (Julie Bowen.) You know what Im saying? The first time I started to get really scared and feel jeopardized by Serial was in the middle of the night, one night maybe around the second or third week of the show. Part of the a360media Entertainment Group. Exclusive: Jay, Key Witness from 'Serial' Tells His Story for First Time, Part 1 The 12-part podcast "Serial" never formally interviewed Jay Wilds, the star witness who helped convict Adnan. Our kids were crying. By accepting all cookies, you agree to our use of cookies to deliver and maintain our services and site, improve the quality of Reddit, personalize Reddit content and advertising, and measure the effectiveness of advertising. He spoke publicly about the case for first time in an exclusive interview with The Intercept. From hair trends to relationship advice, our daily newsletter has everything you need to sound like a person whos on TikTok, even if you arent. You werent there to see your mom crying every night, having a heart att[a]ck when she got the new[s] that the body was found, and going to court almost everyday for a year seeing your mom weeping, crying and fainting. He added that although Koenig had reached out to the family, theyd chosen not to participate or respond. Maybe he thinks they flirt a lot and that Adnans a threat to their relationship) since he has Adnans car & phone he could really make it look like Adnan was involved. After Jay Wilds, the key witness in Adnan Syed's 2000 murder trial and This American Life spinoff Serial, confessed to police he helped Syed bury his ex-girlfriend Hae Min Lee in 1999, he told . Jay also had a best friend named Jenn, who was friends with Stephanie, but not Hae and Adnan. As Serial documented, the states case hinged largely on the testimony of one man: Jay Wilds, a casual friend of Syeds who told police Syed had sought him out as an accomplice because of his perceived criminal status in their Baltimore area. You dont lose your link to humanity. I didnt think he was going to go kill her. Wilds, who recalled when he picked up Syed that day he told him, Oh shit, I did it. But I can do my best to make you hard to identify in the story, so that if someone googled your name, for instance, my story wouldnt come up. They were in the love seat over there [points across the room], and their body language was just making me really uncomfortable. Furthermore, he also played for the US national team in the 2002 FIBA World Championship. Part of the a360media Entertainment Group.Powered by WordPress VIP, Please note that this form cannot be used to reset your Google, Read what else Jay Wilds had to say about the 2000 murder trial detailed by Serial podcast, Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window). Getting deep into Lees background isnt something the podcast achieved, although Koenig described the victim based on what friends said about her. Jose Jonathan Casarez, 18, was also killed. He also discussed how he felt that Koenig tried to intimidate him into giving an interview for the podcast. Phils father, Frank, was portrayed by Fred Willard before the character died. He refused and said that this exchange had upset his family. A former Baltimore Sun reporter who'd since moved onto to NPR, she became interested in the case after receiving an email from Baltimore lawyer Rabia Chaudry. But what I can tell you with confidence is that I think in the end, youll feel better with the end result if youre an active voice in the story rather than someone whos being talkedabout, you get to do the talking. Dorothy Hunts 1972 Death Reportedly Spurred Conspiracy Theories, The Subject Of Netflix's 'The Nurse' Denies Her Attempted Murder Convictions, Allan Gore Reportedly Lives A Quiet Life Decades After The Events Of 'Love & Death', The True Story Of Candy Montgomery From HBO Max's True Crime Series, Get Even More From Bustle Sign Up For The Newsletter. I dont know how she was murdered, I dont know exactly how she got put in that trunk, and I told the cops that. Im being manipulated into whats being done right now.. I dont know if me not moving in Adnans circle of people would have saved her life, he said. By this time my wife was getting real upset. It seems he has full focus on his work rather than being stuck in any controversy. Not to my recollection. What do you think about the people who have listened to Serial and have said in public forums like Reddit or Twitter that you should be punished for participating in helping dispose of Haes body? (She chose not to name them because the prosecution says the investigation is ongoing. Maybe this theory has already been discussed hundreds (if not thousands) of times, and I have just been too lazy to seek it out but after watching the documentary on HBO and listening to Serial, I have come to the simple conclusion that Jay Wilds did the murder through & through. Or like I did the right thing. James' Jay character in the Channel 4 sitcom was certainly . Currently, he has an estimated net worth of $4 million as of 2023. The Serial podcast threw some question marks over Wilds' version of events. He alleged that Syed had told him he had murdered his former girlfriend Hae Min Lee. Court Reinstates Murder Conviction of Adnan Syed of 'Serial' For Now The Serial podcast certainly contributed to the rise of the true-crime genre. Because she had such a complicated relationship with her children, Mitch and Claire reminisced about their mother. Earlier this summer I got some phone calls from people back in Baltimore that a reporter was asking about me and the caseBut it didnt stick with me, and I didnt look into it much further[then] I heard from a few people that [Koenig] was harassing people at their jobs, making countless phone calls [to people] who kept saying they did not want to speak with her. To hear you call yourself a scoundrel with scruples that made me want to understand who you were then, and who you are now. Now, while a botched criminal conviction has been finally undone, the painful question of who killed Lee still gnaws, even though that was the original goal of the investigation. "It helped fan the flames of this story that people had already moved on from.". Jay was pretty much convicted because he told the police he helped dispose of the body. They were . I dont know if theres anything else I could have done. Serial WBEZ Chicago. note: Well refer to this person as Mr. She had become a footnote. During this interview, published in 2014, Wilds recalled the time that Sarah Koenig and her Serial co-producer Julie Snyder turned up to his home to ask him to take part in the audio documentary. Scan this QR code to download the app now. On Monday, Adnan Syed walked out of prison for the first time since he was a teenager. Jay Williams is married to Nikki Bonacorsi. Did you feel a sense of shame after you told the police about your involvement with burying Hae? She kept saying, Its going to be in your interest to talk to me, and that just started to feel like a threat, like if I didnt talk to her it was going to be bad news for me. "I feel like she [Koenig] created an evil archetype of me and sensationalised my motives," he said, when asked if he blamed the podcast. DJ Jay Reynolds working the turntable at WIFE-AM Indianapolis on August 8, 1968.All of the material contained on this channel is presented for educational an. Listeners latched onto these and on the Serial website, a detailed breakdown of the timeline of the day of murder according to Wilds' two police interviews and testimony is provided. But I did want to thank you so much for talking to usyesterdayand for letting us into your house. In the 2000-2001 season, Jay started in all 39 games winning the 2001 NCAA National Championship as well as gaining the NABC Player of the Year award. According to online records, Horton, 42, is "self-employed" and still resides in Baltimore. Have you read the subRedditabout this case and about me? Maybe this theory has already been discussed hundreds (if not thousands) of times, and I have just been too lazy to seek it . I know that during the grand jury there was a spiritual leader of the mosqueI dont know how to pronounce his name. Cookie Notice . Adnan even says him and Jay are friends, but not bestfriends. Wilds pleaded guilty to accessory after the fact to first degree murder, but got no prison time after testifying against Syed. This is similar to what happened with the Amanda Knox story and Meredith Kerchers killer - he immediately pleaded guilty to a lesser charge so it could be over & done with, even though he was the actual killer. By subscribing to this BDG newsletter, you agree to our. Around 10 to 20 minutes after speaking with Oropeza, Garcia said he saw the suspect running toward his house while reloading a gun. Cams sister, Pameron Jessica Pam Tucker, portrayed by Dana Powell, lived above the Tucket-Pritchett family for several episodes. So when these two women show up at my door it sent my wife into a panic. I think he took it as an opportunity to get revenge on Adnan (for being close with Stephanie? I dont know if theres anything else I could have done. This is sure to be something that will be explored in more depth during The Case Against Adnan Syed, as he was such a big part of the state's case. But there was a grand jury hearing on this case,andI have an idea who might have based on that hearing. I know it wasnt an easy visit for you or your family. HE is the one who knew where the body was. At trial, he said Adnan killed Hae in the parking lot of Best Buy, and then he also said he helped Adnan bury her in Leakin Park. The couple tied the knot on May 3, 2018. Serial began in 2014 as a spinoff of This American Life. Currently, he has more than 443k followers on Instagram and almost 618.3K followers on Twitter. It was confusing because they also pitched this story to me as a documentary, and they wanted to put me on video. What's going on with Spencer Matthews Disney+ doc? In the 12 episodes of Serial, Koenig set out to challenge Wilds account of events which ultimately landed Syed in prison for life. This is real life a never-ending nightmare for 20-plus years. He said he believes in the justice system and that he does not oppose a new investigation if its necessary. Again, definitely could be a theory thats been widely discussed but with 0 bias and 0 deep dives into Reddit, this is the simple answer I came to after watching the documentary. Jay says: He and Adnan hung out at Cathy's. At this point, Jay apparently drove himself and Adnan over to Cathy's to smoke. Joining is simple and doesnt need to cost a lot: You can become a sustaining member for as little as $3 or $5 a month. Adnan took his own car, and Jay got home another way. Gordon Lightfoot, Canadian Folk Rock Troubadour, Dead at 84 Before this podcast thing happened, no. Did you make the anonymous call to the police to tip them off about Adnan? Maybe I could have listened better, and taken what I heard more seriously. (As previously reported by Us, Wilds testified in 2000 and told The Intercept in part one of his interview that Syed confronted him about murdering Lee a week before her death. Also read about some famous photographers Donya Fiorentino,Samantha Davis,Jamie Hince,David Lynch,andLaura Perlongo. It keeps going around and around and around, like Im worried God is going to strike me down. He might be needed back in court soon. I felt quite ashamed and embarrassed, Wilds said after admitting that he not only knew that Syed had murdered Lee but that he had helped dig her grave. But she said she was going to be around for another two days, and hopefully they could schedule another time to talk with me, and it wouldnt be in our house. Wilson Garcia spoke at a vigil in Cleveland, Texas, held on Sunday for his 9-year-old son, who was also killed, about the events leading up to the attack. As prosecutors acknowledged in their motion to vacate, a disclaimer on the records entered into evidence had specifically stated that the billing locations for incoming calls were not reliable for determining location. She came to my house and frightened me and my wife. 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. Jay Wilds was a central figure in the Serial podcast and now, with a new documentary offering a fresh perspective on the true crime story, he's once more fresh in the minds . "James is quite shy. But James is very different to Jay, as he is a 35-year-old with a wife and two kids who are approaching their teenage years. In an interview with Vulture, The Case Against Adnan Syed director Amy Berg shared how one of the reasons she questioned Syed's guilt after listening to Serial was because of Wilds. Soon after that, he took partin the Slam Dunk Contest and the McDonalds All-American Game and scored20 points. After scoring 671 points, he became a player who scored at least 600 points for the season along with Carlos Boozer and Mike Dunleavy Jr. Back in the 2002 NBA draft, he signed with Chicago Bulls with the second overall pick. Thats the best version of James. QRI found that Wilds now lives in California, and counts more than 20 arrests on his criminal record. Maybe if it would have happened to someone else, he said in one episode, I would have believed it just because I naturally would have assumed that if the police got the right guy, they got him for the right reasons.. She said there was new evidence, and I said theres no new evidence thats gonna change what I saw: I saw Hae dead in the trunk of the car. The thing is that the story Jay told at trial is not the same story Jay told police the first time.". In the episode, she said they were investigated, though not at length. . Serial's Jay Wilds isn't in the new documentary The Case Against Adnan Syed - but where is he now? In The Intercept interview, Wilds stuck with what he had told to police that Syed allegedly confessed to him, that he allegedly saw Lee's dead body in the trunk of her car, and that he allegedly helped Syed dig a hole for her corpse in Leakin Park. When you ask whats the benefit to you, its a little hard for me to answer, because its kind of a personal question specific to you, and I dont know you enough to know the answer. Rabia Chaudry, an attorney and close family friend of Syed's, took to Twitter shortly after it was published to point out a number of discrepancies from his previous testimony. He told us he was on his property, and he could do what he wanted, Garcia said. And when we asked them how they got our address, Koenig said something like, Sadly, it wasnt hard to find.. However, they dealt with quite a few losses together, including Phils mother. This fact cannot be disputed. It wasnt like, Oh, were down in the park, come on down. We were friendly, we were cool. My daughter sort of understands. Jay Wilds is a former classmate of Adnan Syed from Baltimore, Maryland. After going solo with Mitch and Claire, though, Jay decided it was better if it stuck it out until they were adults. Throughout the comedy series, Jay and Gloria raised their children and their dog, Stella. This character is first introduced as a wealthy businessman who recently married Gloria Ramirez, formerly Delgado, portrayed by Sofia Vergara. But nothing like that would be able to get the better of me. He knew way too much. Im a reporter, and Im trying to figure this case out. Previously, he played for Austin Toros and Chicago Bulls. Because I eventually cooperated with the police and testified, I know that there are people back home who would consider me a snitch and would hurt me. Wilds did not participate in Serial back in 2014 and he doesn't give an interview for The Case Against Adnan Syed either. The true story of Waco, Christine McGuinness feels "extremely vulnerable", Netflix's MH370 documentary raises a question. Criminals are criminals, and they do fucked up shit, but that doesnt mean they dont still have some sort of a moral compass. But it was Syeds cooperation and affability as an interview subject that drew audiences in. (Its reached the point of parody, even: Every great Episode Two always makes you care deeply for the victim, Martin Shorts character says on the first season of Only Murders in the Building.). "I dont hate his character, I feel sorry for Jay. I was downstairs and asked them if they had any business cards that said who they were. No one else knows what you know about this whole case, and so even just the few things you said its exactly what Ive been waiting to hear. Victim's Family Wants to See the Evidence That Released Adnan Syed During the Television Critics Association winter press tour in February, Paste Magazine reported that Berg and other people who worked on the documentary discussed Wilds and his role in the case. Moving towards his education, hecompleted his graduation from St. Joseph High School. The key witness in the case was Jay Wilds, a former classmate of Lee and Syed at Baltimores Woodlawn High School. They are nothing alike thank God. I had cops show up and harass me before at my house. Jay Wilds was a central figure in the Serial podcast and now, with a new documentary offering a fresh perspective on the true crime story, he's once more fresh in the minds (and internet searches) of the people. Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. Im gonna kill that bitch, man. Youre in the documentary either way, so it just seems more respectful and fair to you to let you tell what happened, rather then having me piece it together from whatever I can glean from the record. She sent me an email the next day [a copy of this email was provided to The Intercept]. The following has been edited and condensed for clarity.

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