CENTRAL PARK FIVE, THE

Ariveting,in-depthaccountofoneofNewYorkCity’smostnotoriouscrimes.OnApril20,1989,thebodyofawomanisdiscoveredinCentralPark,herskullsobadlysmashedthatnearly80percentofherbloodhasspilledontotheground.Withindays,fiveblackandLatinoteenagersconfesstoherrapeandbeating.Inacitywhereurbancrimeisatahighandviolenceisfrequent,theensuingmediafrenzyandhystericalpublicreactionisextraordinary.Theyoungmenaretriedasadultsandconvictedofrape,despitethefactthattheteensquicklyrecanttheirinconsistentandinaccurateconfessionsandthatnoDNAtestsoreyewitnessaccountstieanyofthemtothevictim.Theyservetheircompletesentencesbeforeanotherman,serialrapistMatiasReyes,confessestothecrimeandisconnectedtoitbyDNAtesting.Intertwiningthestoriesofthesefiveyoungmen,thepoliceofficers,thedistrictattorneys,thevictim,andMatiasReyes,SarahBurnsunravelstheforcesthatmadeboththecrimeanditsprosecutionpossible.Mostdramatically,shegivesusaportraitofacityalreadybesetbyviolenceanddeepeningriftsbetweenracesandclasses,whoselawenforcement,government,socialinstitutions,andmediawereunderminingtheveryrightsoftheindividualstheyweredesignedtosafeguardandprotect.