The Central Park Five: The Untold Story

A captivating retelling of the true events surrounding the Central Park jogger case, this book provides a powerful reassessment of one of New York City's most infamous crimes and its aftermath. It is essential reading, especially for those who have watched Ava DuVernay's When They See Us.

On April 20th, 1989, the body of the "Central Park jogger" was discovered by two passersby in a ravine. She had been brutally raped and beaten. Shortly after, five teenagers, who were black and Latino, were arrested and all confessed to the crime. The intense media coverage and public outrage that followed highlighted the deep-rooted racial and socioeconomic divides in New York City at that time. Despite lack of evidence linking them to the victim, the minors were tried and convicted as adults.

More than ten years later, DNA testing implicated serial rapist Matias Reyes in the assault, revealing that the government, law enforcement, social institutions, and media in New York had failed to protect the individuals involved. Sarah Burns now revisits this historic case, offering a comprehensive account since the convictions of the young men were overturned. Finally, the complete story of one of New York's most notorious crimes is unveiled.

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