Serial Podcast Episode 11: Rumors by Shea and Sophie

Episode 11

Episode 11 of the Serial Podcast focuses mainly on two things: the rumors surrounding Adnan, and the psychology behind murderers. To start the episode, Sarah Koenig explains that since the release of the first episode of the podcast, she has received a plethora of information through phone calls, texts, and emails. The problem with this information, however, is that they are all what Koenig would classify as rumors. Information from one person often fails to align with information from another person, and Koenig has difficulty understanding what, if any, truth can be discerned from all these conflicting reports. According to Koenig, all of these rumors come from Muslims in the community who often attended the same mosque as Adnan. She lets the viewers know that she investigates almost every rumor as best she can, but more often than not, they are so insignificant that there is nothing to investigate.

The most important rumor of the episode is that supposedly Adnan stole money from his mosque. Two separate mosque-attenders tell Koenig that Adnan "skimmed" donation money but only one of these informants goes on tape with Koenig. An anonymous male alleges that he witnessed Adnan, the "good little Muslim kid," steal thousands of dollars every week. Additionally, the anonymous man admits to stealing money himself, suggesting that this was not a rare occurrence in the Muslim community. Koenig talks to the president of the Islamic Society of Baltimore, who explains that theft was not uncommon, but that, realistically, Adnan only could have stolen at most twenty to forty dollars a week.

After being presented with this information, Koenig goes to Adnan and asks him if it was true; if he had in fact stolen donation money. Adnan is insulted and irritated with Koenig questioning him about it, but perhaps more importantly, he admits that it was true. Adnan thinks that it was an unfair and accusatory question, especially since he was ashamed of stealing in the first place. Adnan reveals that he and the other 8th grade children who were collecting donations would steal around $60, then spend it on movies or the arcade. Only after being caught by his mother did Adnan stop, and it was later in life that he realized how wrong it was to steal. Various members of the mosque think that it was a shameful deed, but not one that made Adnan a bad person (and much less a murderer).

Koenig talks to Atif Iqbal, a fellow mosque-goer who knew Adnan. Atif says that he had never seen Adnan mad. However, the same anonymous man who said that Adnan stole money claims that "whatever was coming out of his mouth half of the time . . . was just sweet talk or . . . a lie." On the other side of the coin, that same man says that Adnan was a great guy who was friendly and smart.

Koenig goes on to talk with Charles Ewing, a forensic psychologist who evaluates criminal defendants. She talks with him to figure out what might have been going on in Adnan's mind were he the killer. Based off of what she's heard from those who knew him, Koenig needs to figure out if the character that she knows is capable of murder. Ewing explains that more often than not, people commit murder when they are pushed over the edge, not because of psychopathic tendencies. It appears that if Adnan killed Hae, it would be unlikely that it was premeditated.

A former classmate and a former teacher of his both agreed: Adnan didn't have it in him to premeditate a murder. They postulate that it was a murder in the heat of the moment; a murder of passion and emotion where Adnan just snapped. Ewing confirms that people can "snap," and that he does not consider it premeditation, even if the killer had previously mulled over the idea of killing someone.

Another idea Koenig has is that it's possible that Adnan simply doesn't believe he murdered Hae. Ewing once again confirms that this is a possibility explaining that in over half of the people he's evaluated, there was some degree of amnesia involved. Ewing explains that it is possible that Adnan committed murder in a completely dissociative state.

The final theory is that Adnan is a psychopath. Ewing explains that psychopaths are rarely killers, and killers are rarely psychopaths. Were Adnan a psychopath, he would have superficial charm and be highly manipulative. The fact that Adnan has been successful in prison and maintains friendships makes the theory less attractive, but not impossible. Ewing concludes that from what he knows about Adnan, he doesn't believe he is a psychopath, because he believes that he can show real empathy.

Finally, Koenig discusses the fact that Adnan has been relatively calm throughout all these years. Some people point to his apparent lack of frustration and anger as evidence that he is guilty. Adnan explains that displaying these emotions vividly and outwardly will produce nothing. He believes that no matter what he says or does, people won't be able to understand how he feels. He also explains that he carefully thinks about what he says or does, out of fear of being accused of lying or manipulating.

Discussion Questions:

1. Do you see similarities between Koenig’s and Capote’s investigations? Explain.

2. If Adnan did murder Hae, how do you think it happened: was it premeditated or did he snap?

3. Why do you think there are so many conflicting reports on Adnan’s character? From what you’ve heard, do you think Adnan is who he presents himself as?

4. What do you think about the fact that Adnan stole from the mosque? Does it change your image of him?