The Central Park Jogger Case

The Central Park Jogger case involved the brutal assault and rape of a woman in Central Park, New York City, in 1989. Five teenagers—known as the Central Park Five—were convicted based on confessions and DNA evidence, despite inconsistencies and lack of physical evidence linking them directly to the crime. In 2002, the real attacker, Matias Reyes, confessed and DNA evidence confirmed his guilt, leading to the exoneration of the five men. The case highlighted issues of racial bias and the criminal justice system’s fallibility, sparking ongoing discussions about police practices and wrongful convictions.