Undisclosed: Toward Justice · Undisclosed

The State v. Adnan Syed 2.0 - Episode 4 - Not Eliminated

·41 min·4 clips

A former LensCrafters employee admits she unknowingly helped create a fake alibi for Don on the day Hae went missing.

This episode of Undisclosed examines the investigation into Don Clinedienst, the boyfriend of murder victim Hae Min Lee, and why he was never properly eliminated as a suspect. Hosts Rabia Chaudry and Colin Miller reinvestigate the 1999 case, drawing on their years of experience with the wrongful conviction of Adnan Syed. A central focus is Don's alibi that he was working at the Hunt Valley LensCrafters on January 13, 1999, the day Hae disappeared. The police accepted a manager's verification over the phone but never visited that store or collected Don's forensic evidence. Attorney Susan Simpson previously analyzed Don's timecard from that day, highlighting discrepancies like differing employee numbers and hours that didn't add up. The episode introduces a new witness, former LensCrafters manager Deborah Renner, who worked at the Hunt Valley store. Renner states she never saw Don at work on January 13th and recalls helping her manager, Don's mother Anita Baird, input Don into the store's computer system the same day police visited. She remembers the police meeting was never documented and that she was unexpectedly transferred soon after. The hosts also discuss forensic findings from Hae Min Lee's autopsy, specifically subgaleal hematomas on the right side of her head. A consulting expert, Dr. Michelle Patch, suggested these injuries could indicate violent hair-pulling, which is more commonly associated with female perpetrators. This analysis connects to previously identified unknown female DNA found on evidence from the crime scene. Investigator Sarah Koenig's subsequent probe into Don's life revealed his future wife, Robin, also worked in the optical field and lived nearby in 1999. Robin refused an interview and a voluntary DNA sample, so investigators obtained DNA profiles from the couple's discarded trash. These profiles were submitted to the Baltimore State's Attorney's Office for comparison against the unknown female DNA. The hosts argue the original investigation failed to properly vet Don's alibi or explore other suspects, focusing solely on Adnan Syed. They emphasize that neither Don's coworkers nor his timecards were reliably scrutinized, and no forensic evidence ever linked Adnan to the crime. The tone is investigative and critical, methodically dissecting police files and presenting new testimonial and forensic analysis. The style is conversational but dense with factual details, legal terminology, and documented timelines. Listeners interested in forensic detail, investigative journalism, and legal procedure will find this episode compelling. Those seeking a straightforward narrative or who are unfamiliar with the case's long history may find the level of detail overwhelming.

As heard by us

A disputed police visit and a belated memory turn the record itself into the story.

This episode centers on a disputed police visit to the Hunt Valley Lens Crafters store, a memory that returns later, and the gap between one account and the police file.

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Why you'd press play

Press play if you want a lawyerly, file-first look at a disputed store visit.

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