Digital Spy participates in various affiliate marketing programs, which means we may get paid commissions on editorially chosen products purchased through our links to retailer sites. James Buckley's wife, Clair Buckley, has said that she will be angry if her kids quote any of their dad's iconic The Inbetweeners lines. Did you feel a sense of shame after you told the police about your involvement with burying Hae? Yeah, like I did. She sent me an email the next day [a copy of this email was provided to The Intercept]. 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. Youre in this on your own. He is married to his longtime girlfriend, Nikki Bonacorsi. 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. Baltimore Prosecutors Drop Charges Against Adnan Syed, While justice may have been served for Syed and his supporters, the same cant be said for the family of Hae Min Lee. Perhaps thats because the case was brought to her by Rabia Chaudry, a longtime friend of Syeds, and a lawyer who has spent much of her career trying to get his case reexamined. I was also running [drug] operations from my grandmothers house. 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. It felt like he had to be, as Koenig repeatedly laid out, either a ridiculously unlucky guy, or a charming sociopath. 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. Cookie Notice Much of Koenig's work focused on the inconsistencies that were in Wilds' statements to the police and his testimony at Syed's second trial, which led to Syed's conviction. Each season explored a nonfictional story in weekly installments. Moving towards his education, hecompleted his graduation from St. Joseph High School. I think he took it as an opportunity to get revenge on Adnan (for being close with Stephanie? However, as the . 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 18-year-old high school senior played varsity field hockey and lacrosse and managed the boys' wrestling team, and was due to graduate with honors with the class of 1999. And while listeners might not have admitted it to themselves, so did his likeability. The whole Jay story was so confusing. But she said that she had talked to Adnan, and she wanted to get more information about the case. Jay was pretty much convicted because he told the police he helped dispose of the body. Consider what the world of media would look like without The Intercept. The thing is that the story Jay told at trial is not the same story Jay told police the first time.". Copyright 2023 Endgame360 Inc. All Rights Reserved. During the Disneyland episode of season 3, Jay explained his plan to leave his wife when she bailed on a family trip to the theme park. Anything that makes Adnan innocent doesnt involve me. So far, there are not any drastic rumors regarding his personal and professional life. I think the truth is important, and Im trying to tell it not for entertainment value.". My wife reads the transcripts and tells me about them. It was in this relationship that he had Mitchell (Jesse Tyler Ferguson) and Claire (Julie Bowen.) Editors picks 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. The Real Housewives of Atlanta The Bachelor Sister Wives 90 Day Fiance Wife Swap The Amazing Race Australia Married at First Sight The Real Housewives of Dallas My 600-lb Life Last Week Tonight with John Oliver. Jay Wilds is a former classmate of Adnan Syed from Baltimore, Maryland. No, it was her and another woman [Serial producer Julie Snyder]. 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. B.]. We earn a commission for products purchased through some links in this article. There was a knock on my door in late August or early September, I cant remember exactly when, but I remember I was changing my clothes. Whenever I think its over, and its ended, it always comes back, he said. The couple tied the knot on May 3, 2018. From: Sarah Koenig Only if Haes family wanted me to so they could have some sort of peace. 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.. For more information, please see our 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. Besides this, there is not any information regarding his other body measurements. Thats all it takes to support the journalism you rely on. "On seven separate occasions over the last five months, we have requested an interview with Jay, either on the record or off. So when these two women show up at my door it sent my wife into a panic. 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. Jay Wilds, a classmate of both Lee and Syed, played a huge role in the case. He is married and a father of one. After years of disagreements, they got a divorce. Also read about some famous photographers Donya Fiorentino,Samantha Davis,Jamie Hince,David Lynch,andLaura Perlongo. In case youve missed it, Wilds testified against Syed in 2000, claiming that Syed murdered his ex-girlfriend Hae Min Lee in 1999. The four-part HBO documentary also features Chaudry, who has been outspoken about her disbelief in Wilds' version of things. The Serial podcast certainly contributed to the rise of the true-crime genre. That includes Jays ex-wife, DeDe. PART 3: The collateral damage of an extremely popular podcast. When I was there 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. What's going on with Spencer Matthews Disney+ doc? Syed was put on trial in February 2000 and was convicted of the murder of his girlfriend Hae Min Lee. There was enough doubt for me to want to give this a real close look," Berg said. When he was interviewed in 2014, Wilds was living with his wife and their young. 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I had a lot of feelings, like, I should have done something better or listened better.. There is a specific point where I became involved in this. Again, Im not out to vilify anyone no ones talking about revenge or retribution here. At some point during the initial 2014 season, a person purporting to be Lees brother began posting on Reddit, criticizing the podcast for publicizing his sisters murder to an audience of millions. 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). In true spiritual fashion, the character chose to become a tree following her death. I also wanted to thank you for taking the time to think it over. Rolling Stone is a part of Penske Media Corporation. We won't post to any of your accounts without asking first. But I did want to thank you so much for talking to usyesterdayand for letting us into your house. For his role in the crime, he was given two years probation for being anaccessory to murder after the fact. Elsewhere in the interview, Clair spoke about how polar opposite James is to the sex-obsessed teen of Jay who he portrayed. How many covert wars, miscarriages of justice, and dystopian technologies would remain hidden if our reporters werent on the beat? It will feature interviews with those that knew Lee and Syed, as well as members of law enforcement. This man has loaded his weapon, Garcia said. 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. Yet, as Newsday reported, you won't hear from Wilds in The Case Against Adnan Syed, and the publication noted how the second episode in particular targets Wilds' trustworthiness. Trending It captured the imagination of armchair detectives and birthed countless internet forums dedicated to dissecting the intricacies of the case. Jay is involved. We have tried to keep the lines of communication open with him, contacting him well before the podcast began airing, during the run of the story and as recently as last week.". From the beginning of his childhood, he had a keen interest in basketball as well as chess and also began to play from a very early age. Serial WBEZ Chicago. Ive never been able to listen to the podcast. [He said] 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. On paper, in the trial transcript, youre two-dimensional. Damn near got suicidal at one point. However, Williams was reassigned to the NBA full-time with his addition to ESPNs NBA Countdown program in 2019. Since starring in The Inbetweeners from 2008 to 2010 and its subsequent films, James has built up a massive YouTube channel, At Home With The Buckleys, which has over 13 million views. 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. Like, I dont know if I sold more weed or less weed that Hae would still be alive. I had a lot of feelings, like, I should have done something better or listened better. Garcias son Daniel Enrique Laso was also killed, along with two women who tried to protect his baby and 2-year-old daughter. Part of the a360media Entertainment Group. He used this platform to tell his side of the story and also criticised assumptions that were made about him. 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. But theres no evidence thats gonna change what I saw. However, there is not any news about their marriage. "I was just really dissatisfied with the information that was available. 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.. And based on the lack of information about Wilds' whereabouts and the fact that he told The Intercept, "I don't want to talk about this for entertainment purposes," the public may not hear from Wilds again. Her body was not found until almost one month later, on February 9, by a local man who claimed he was walking through the woods to find somewhere to pee. Serial began in 2014 as a spinoff of This American Life. B. did plead the fifth during the grand jury testimony.] Victim's Family Wants to See the Evidence That Released Adnan Syed That means the justice system potentially imprisoned the wrong man for the last 23 years. The Baltimore City States Attorneys office said in a motion submitted last Wednesday that they could not justify keeping Syed in prison any longer because several factors of the case had given them overwhelming cause for concern: A prosecutor had found two potential suspects in case files who hadnt been properly ruled out during the investigation. By staying focused on the mystery, listeners were rapt wondering, Did he or didnt he, but that made it easy to lose sight of the humans in the story. John "Jay" Porter allegedly assaulted a 15-year-old student in 2004 and 2005, when he was a school resource officer in Massachusetts. So that would ruin her life tooSo I said, Look man, Im not touching [Hae]. She kept saying This American Life, the radio, and a documentary. There was no talk of Serial or a podcast. December 30, 2014. 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 . 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. Syed was arrested that same day, aged 17. . I asked them to leave at this point because they were upsetting my wife and kids. If [Haes mother] had some unanswered questions, and she needs to know what happened here, then Id say, Ill walk [you] through all that. Thats the only person Im going through all that shit for. In 2020 Serial joined the New York Times Company. 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. Before this podcast thing happened, no. Im going to do whatever it takes to get this down, to make sure at night I can sleep. Adnan took his own car, and Jay got home another way. Theres no point in me participating in that conversation. Moreover, he has a pair of black eyes and he is bald. I cant have this in the back of my mind that Im going to get a lightning bolt or something. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. It was confusing because they also pitched this story to me as a documentary, and they wanted to put me on video. Soon after that, he took partin the Slam Dunk Contest and the McDonalds All-American Game and scored20 points. Throughout interviews with Koenig, Syed was always willing to get introspective, even philosophical. But in real life, of course youre more than just a states witness. I dont know if me not moving in Adnans circle of people would have saved her life. According to online records, Horton, 42, is "self-employed" and still resides in Baltimore. It wasnt like, Oh, were down in the park, come on down. We were friendly, we were cool. As Serial documented, the state's case hinged largely on the testimony of one man: Jay Wilds, a casual friend of Syed's who told police Syed had sought him out as an accomplice because of his. He got engaged to Nikki Bonacorsi in December 2017. We didnt want or mean for that to happen, but I completely understand why it did. [Ed. How did you come about it? And she said she was a reporter at the time of the trial and knew about Cristina Gutierrez [Adnans lawyer who was disbarred in 2001]. In the 12 episodes of Serial, Koenig set out to challenge Wilds account of events which ultimately landed Syed in prison for life. Jay declined to be interviewed by Serial host and producer, Sarah Koenig. I felt quite ashamed and embarrassed. Jose Jonathan Casarez, 18, was also killed. Wilds' first taped interview with police occurred on February 28, 1999. Normal high school Im mad at her and Ill scratch her car sort of stuff.. Wilds, who testified to the guilt of Adnan Syed in the murder of Lee, Syed's former girlfriend, gave his account of his involvement in the burial of the victim in part 1. QRI found that Wilds now lives in California, and counts more than 20 arrests on his criminal record. 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. The problem was, when discussing his version of events during The Intercept interview, Wilds appeared to change his story once again. Getting deep into Lees background isnt something the podcast achieved, although Koenig described the victim based on what friends said about her. Jay is either the killer or knows the killer. . 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. Facebook gives people the power to share. That includes Jay's ex-wife, DeDe. To you listeners, its another murder mystery, crime drama, another episode of CSI. That is, until her death during season 10. Kiss Paul Stanley Has 'Thoughts' About Parents Who Support Kids Gender Identities Us Weekly has affiliate partnerships so we may receive compensation for some links to products and services. Since then, he couldnt make it to the professional team. In case you've missed it, Wilds testified against Syed in 2000, claiming that Syed murdered his ex-girlfriend Hae Min Lee in 1999. Wilds was the person who gave evidence at trial and his testimony is mainly what Adnan's conviction is based on. No. For access to all our exclusive celebrity videos and interviews Subscribe on YouTube! "I hope they dont think they will get a free pass because their dad said it.". COMING NEXT: PART 3: The collateral damage of an extremely popular podcast. Furthermore, he also played for the US national team in the 2002 FIBA World Championship. Did testifying in Adnans trial make you feel better or worse? Im not using your last name, and I wont say where you live or anything about your family. Phils father, Frank, was portrayed by Fred Willard before the character died. Wilds also discussed the impact that the podcast had on his life. He is father of One(Amelia Brooklyn-Rose Williams). note: this is Jays speculation, we were not able to confirm if Mr. B served in a leadership or spiritual advisor role at the mosque]. I told Sarah that the only one who deserves any type of closure from any of this is her mom. But that cellphone data, it turned out, was faulty. Despite all that, a lot still see him as Jay from The Inbetweeners, and with his sons approaching their teenage years, they may soon stumble across their dad's work. Why would someone that helped dispose of a body, repeatedly lie to the police over the course of months and cover up a murder for a "mild acquaintance" out of fear . She had become a footnote. Subsequently, he became ACC Rookie of the Year and National Freshman of the Year by The Sporting News. You know what Im saying? This fact cannot be disputed. A man who complained to his neighbor about shooting his gun in Texas has spoken out about his wifes courageous act moments before she and four others were massacred on Friday night. A few other characters appear throughout this series, acting as the in-laws or parents of the adults. Serial's Jay Wilds isn't in the new documentary The Case Against Adnan Syed - but where is he now? The two announced their . Not to my recollection. Wilds did not participate in Serial back in 2014 and he doesn't give an interview for The Case Against Adnan Syed either. Following a rare 2014 interview with Natasha Vargas-Cooper of The Intercept, the outlet reported that Jay lived with his wife and children in a 'two-story suburban home.' Maybe this theory has already been discussed hundreds (if not thousands) of times, and I have just been too lazy to seek it . 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. By this time my wife was getting real upset. I felt ashamed. The lawyers and police representing the state made me feel like I did well. 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. It was the first new episode covering the case since 2016, when Koenig had attended three days of post-conviction relief hearings. So, for the most part, weve been really protective about our privacy. The story is about him. I only smoked with him two or three times. He also claimed that he had assisted him with burying the body in Leakin Park. The state has 30 days to decide whether they will prosecute Syed again in a new trial.) Wilds, a former classmate of Syed, has been relatively under the radar since the 2000 trial that sentenced Syed to life in prison plus 30 years on charges of . American former professional basketball player. I thought at worst hed throw a rock through her window or something. OnJune 19, 2003, he met an accident while riding his motorcycleat the intersection of Fletcher and Honore streets onChicagosNorth Side. Alas, it wasnt difficult at all. "I dont hate his character, I feel sorry for Jay. He refused and said that this exchange had upset his family. 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. Would you have talked to another reporter? Syed said, Youve gotta help me, or Im gonna tell the cops about you and the weed and all that shit, he recalled, adding that is when he saw Lees dead body which looked kinda purple [and] blue in Syeds trunk. Our kids were crying. After going solo with Mitch and Claire, though, Jay decided it was better if it stuck it out until they were adults. I know it wasnt an easy visit for you or your family. Furthermore, he also wonthe 1999 Morgan Wootten Award. This is how Adnan knew Jay. Later, he enrolled at Duke University and played college basketball there. And Hae Min Lee is not part of that narrative.. Both Julie and I felt pretty terrible that we caused such upheaval. We dont have ads, so we depend on our members 35,000 and counting to help us hold the powerful to account. The third and final part will be published tomorrow. View the profiles of people named Jay Wilds. "My wife told me to go inside because 'He won't . You dont lose your link to humanity. HE is the one who knew where the body was. The Intercept is an independent nonprofit news outlet. If she told you that up front, and was completely transparent about what she thought about this case, would you have felt more comfortable talking to her? Here Are Some Milestones for This Modern Family Character. If youre telling the truth, then what harm would it be to talk to Koenig? 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. So I continued questioning her, and it was clear there were key people who werent talking to 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. My wife knows about my involvement in this case. On 10th October 2018, they had a daughter, Amelia Brooklyn-Rose Williams. 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. For access to all our exclusive celebrity videos and interviews Subscribe on YouTube! 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. "Hes not a performer, hes best when were having a BBQ with a few friends. Hae was dead before she got to my house. Currently, he has more than 443k followers on Instagram and almost 618.3K followers on Twitter. Jay was born onSeptember 10, 1981, in, Plainfield, New Jersey, United States. 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. I think the simplest pitch I can make to you is: You have a story about what happened to you, and you should be the one to tell it. As any listener will know, Jay was a problematic witness for Serial narrator Sarah Koenig, because of the way he kept changing his story as . These characters had a child together Fulgencio Joseph Joe Pritchett. 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. All rights reserved. Wilds told police that he helped Syed bury Lee in Leakin Park. My wife took all our kids upstairs. Date: Aug 9, 2014 6:11 AM Listening to Serial was a back-and-forth of evidence and interviews, and choose-your-own conclusion week to week whether he was guilty or not. Like, I dont know if I sold more weed or less weed that Hae would still be alive. "I was just really dissatisfied with the information that was available. But Oropeza declined the request. He became a star witness for the state but his. Jay Wilds is a former classmate of Adnan Syed from Baltimore, Maryland. So why would he confide in Jay about killing his ex gf if they werent that close? Part of the a360media Entertainment Group.Powered by WordPress VIP, Please note that this form cannot be used to reset your Google, Jay Wilds, the key witness detailed in hit podcast Serial, broke his silence in an interview with The Intercept, Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window).