Five teenagers spent between 6 and 13 years in prison after being wrongfully convicted in a case that drew national attention in 1989.
Synopsis
Five teenagers spent between 6 and 13 years in prison after being wrongfully convicted in a case that drew national attention in 1989.
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Synopsis
On April 19, 1989, Trisha Meili, a 28-year-old investment banker, was violently assaulted while jogging in Central Park. The case quickly escalated, leading to the wrongful arrests of five teenagers. They faced intense police pressure and media scrutiny, resulting in convictions for crimes they did not commit. After years of imprisonment, their convictions were vacated when Matias Reyes, a serial rapist, confessed to the attack. The documentary details the events surrounding the case, the flawed justice system, and the lasting impact on the lives of the accused.
What Critics Say
The documentary suggests the confessions were browbeaten out of them after hours of nonstop questioning.
Deep Dive
Why Watch
- See the wrongful convictions of the Central Park Five.
- Meet Trisha Meili, the jogger attacked in 1989.
- Find out how DNA evidence exonerated the five men.
Did You Know
- Trisha Meili was in a coma for 12 days after her attack in 1989.
- The New York Times called the jogger attack one of the most publicized crimes of the 1980s.
- Four of the five suspects were younger than 16 at the time of the crime.
- Matias Reyes confessed to the crime in 2001 while in prison.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What was the Central Park jogger case?
The Central Park jogger case involved the violent assault, rape, and sodomy of Trisha Meili in Central Park on April 19, 1989, along with related attacks on eight other individuals.
Who directed the Central Park Five documentary?
The Central Park Five documentary was directed by Ken Burns, Sarah Burns, and David McMahon.
What was the outcome of the Central Park Five's convictions?
The convictions of the five men were vacated after a 2002 investigation found DNA evidence that identified Matias Reyes as the sole perpetrator of the crime.
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