The Central Park 5: Where Are They Now?

Mar. 15, 2025

Photo: Getty Images

The night of April 19, 1989, should’ve been like any other; but for five Black and Hispanic teens, it originatedone of the most famous miscarriages of justicein modern American history.

Fourteen-year-oldsRaymond Santanaand Kevin Richardson, 15-year-olds Antron McCray andYusef Salaamand 16-year-old Korey Wise were among the boys taken into custody for Meili’s attack. After hours of interrogation at the Central Park Precinct, the boys, under duress, confessed to assaulting her; however, they recanted their admissions, stating they only confessed under the premise that they could go home afterward.

From April 27–28, 1989, all five teens were indicted on counts including rape, assault, attempted murder and rioting. Wise, being 16, was charged as an adult and sent to Rikers Island prison in N.Y.C., and the remaining four were taken into juvenile facilities.

The “Central Park Five,” as the media dubbed them, maintained their innocence since that fateful night. Each served five to 13 years in prison until, in 2002, DNA evidence set them free.

Now calling themselves the “Exonerated Five,” in October 2024, the men filed a defamation lawsuit against former PresidentDonald Trumpafter he falsely claimed at a presidential campaign rally that they had all pled guilty and that Meili had died during the attack.

According toNBC News, the suit claimed that the men had “suffered injuries as a result of Defendant Trump’s false and defamatory statements,” and have asked for a trial to determine damages they may be owed.

Here’s where the “Exonerated Five” are today.

01of 10A Public ServantYusef Salaam.Malcolm Clarke/APSalaam (pictured here in 1990) was 14 when jurors found him guilty of rape, assault, robbery and riot in connection with the assault of 28-year-old investment banker Trisha Meili, as well as separate assaults on two male joggers. Salaam served nearly seven years in an upstate juvenile detention facility — all the while, he was innocent.Inan October 2016 editorial published inThe Washington Post, Salaam said the police officers interrogated and deprived him and his four codefendants of food, drink and sleep for more than 24 hours.The married father continues to speak about his ordeal, and in 2016, Salaam received a lifetime achievement award from PresidentBarack Obama. His memoir,Better, Not Bitter: Living on Purpose in the Pursuit of Racial Justice, was published in 2021 and calls for prison reform.Salaam waselected to represent Harlem on the New York City Councilin 2023, assuming office on Jan. 1, 2024.

01of 10

A Public Servant

Yusef Salaam.Malcolm Clarke/AP

Malcolm Clarke/AP

Salaam (pictured here in 1990) was 14 when jurors found him guilty of rape, assault, robbery and riot in connection with the assault of 28-year-old investment banker Trisha Meili, as well as separate assaults on two male joggers. Salaam served nearly seven years in an upstate juvenile detention facility — all the while, he was innocent.

Inan October 2016 editorial published inThe Washington Post, Salaam said the police officers interrogated and deprived him and his four codefendants of food, drink and sleep for more than 24 hours.

The married father continues to speak about his ordeal, and in 2016, Salaam received a lifetime achievement award from PresidentBarack Obama. His memoir,Better, Not Bitter: Living on Purpose in the Pursuit of Racial Justice, was published in 2021 and calls for prison reform.

Salaam waselected to represent Harlem on the New York City Councilin 2023, assuming office on Jan. 1, 2024.

02of 10An Accused Man-Turned-AdvocateKorey Wise.Roy Rochlin/GettyJust 16 when jurors convicted him of assault, sexual abuse and riot, Wise was sentenced to five to 15 years behind bars and released after serving 12. After the verdict was read, Wise turned his attention toward the prosecutors. “You’re going to pay for this,” Wise shouted in court. “Jesus is going to get you. You made this up.“Wise still lives in New York City and is often asked to speak about his experience. Through his work with theInnocence Project, Wise also advocates for the rights of the wrongly convicted as well as criminal justice reform.

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An Accused Man-Turned-Advocate

Korey Wise.Roy Rochlin/Getty

Roy Rochlin/Getty

Just 16 when jurors convicted him of assault, sexual abuse and riot, Wise was sentenced to five to 15 years behind bars and released after serving 12. After the verdict was read, Wise turned his attention toward the prosecutors. “You’re going to pay for this,” Wise shouted in court. “Jesus is going to get you. You made this up.”

Wise still lives in New York City and is often asked to speak about his experience. Through his work with theInnocence Project, Wise also advocates for the rights of the wrongly convicted as well as criminal justice reform.

03of 10A Young Life StolenKevin Richardson.Gene Kappock/NY Daily News Archive via GettyRichardson was 14 when he was accused of attacking and sexually assaulting the Central Park jogger. Eventually, he was convicted of attempted murder, rape, sodomy, assault and robbery and served more than five years for a crime he did not commit.Like Wise, Richardson also does work for the Innocence Project, advocating for the rights of others who’ve been wrongfully accused.

03of 10

A Young Life Stolen

Kevin Richardson.Gene Kappock/NY Daily News Archive via Getty

Richardson was 14 when he was accused of attacking and sexually assaulting the Central Park jogger. Eventually, he was convicted of attempted murder, rape, sodomy, assault and robbery and served more than five years for a crime he did not commit.

Like Wise, Richardson also does work for the Innocence Project, advocating for the rights of others who’ve been wrongfully accused.

04of 10Giving Back After Losing So MuchRaymond Santana.New York Daily News Archive/GettySantana was 14 when he lost five years of his life following his conviction on rape, assault, robbery and riot charges. Today, Santana lives in Atlanta with his daughter.In 2018, the filmmakerlaunched a clothing linecalled Park Madison NYC. The following year, the company announced a portion of the proceeds from selling its “Brotherhood Tee” — bearing the first names of the “Central Park Five” — would go toward the Innocence Project,according to its Facebook page.

04of 10

Giving Back After Losing So Much

Raymond Santana.New York Daily News Archive/Getty

New York Daily News Archive/Getty

Santana was 14 when he lost five years of his life following his conviction on rape, assault, robbery and riot charges. Today, Santana lives in Atlanta with his daughter.

In 2018, the filmmakerlaunched a clothing linecalled Park Madison NYC. The following year, the company announced a portion of the proceeds from selling its “Brotherhood Tee” — bearing the first names of the “Central Park Five” — would go toward the Innocence Project,according to its Facebook page.

05of 10Forgetting the PastAntron McCray.New York Daily News Archive via GettyMcCray (right) was 15 when he was tried and convicted on rape, assault, robbery and riot charges. Sentenced to five to 10 years in prison, he was released after serving six.He is living down South, where he’s raising his children.

05of 10

Forgetting the Past

Antron McCray.New York Daily News Archive via Getty

New York Daily News Archive via Getty

McCray (right) was 15 when he was tried and convicted on rape, assault, robbery and riot charges. Sentenced to five to 10 years in prison, he was released after serving six.

He is living down South, where he’s raising his children.

06of 10A Trump ConnectionMike Albans/NY Daily News Archive via GettyYears before becoming president, prominent New Yorker Trump took a personal interest in implicating the Central Park Five.Days after the attack on the jogger, Trump paid for full-page ads in four major newspapers advocating for the reinstatement of the death penalty. The ads did not specifically mention the “Central Park Five” but called for a beefed-up police force and stiffer penalties for offenders.During his presidential run, Trump reinforced his earlier position,telling CNN in October 2016, “They admitted they were guilty. The police doing the original investigation say they were guilty.“Even while president,Trump still wouldn’t apologizefor the 1989 ads. In June 2019, White House correspondent April Ryan asked Trump via X (formerly Twitter) and in person about the exonerated men and he repeated his stance that “They admitted their guilt.”

06of 10

A Trump Connection

Mike Albans/NY Daily News Archive via Getty

Years before becoming president, prominent New Yorker Trump took a personal interest in implicating the Central Park Five.

Days after the attack on the jogger, Trump paid for full-page ads in four major newspapers advocating for the reinstatement of the death penalty. The ads did not specifically mention the “Central Park Five” but called for a beefed-up police force and stiffer penalties for offenders.

During his presidential run, Trump reinforced his earlier position,telling CNN in October 2016, “They admitted they were guilty. The police doing the original investigation say they were guilty.”

Even while president,Trump still wouldn’t apologizefor the 1989 ads. In June 2019, White House correspondent April Ryan asked Trump via X (formerly Twitter) and in person about the exonerated men and he repeated his stance that “They admitted their guilt.”

07of 10Free at LastCentral Park Five.Taylor Hill/FilmMagicThe reputations of the group once known as the “Central Park Five” were restored when, in June 2002, a convicted murderer and serial rapist named Matias Reyes — who was then already serving a life sentence for other crimes —admitted to attacking Meili. His DNA was subsequently matched to genetic material recovered from the scene.After their convictions were formally vacated, the five wrongly convicted men filed a civil suit against the city, whichsettled in 2014 for a reported $41 million.In 2016, the menreceived an additional $3.9 million settlementfrom the New York State Court of Claims.

07of 10

Free at Last

Central Park Five.Taylor Hill/FilmMagic

The reputations of the group once known as the “Central Park Five” were restored when, in June 2002, a convicted murderer and serial rapist named Matias Reyes — who was then already serving a life sentence for other crimes —admitted to attacking Meili. His DNA was subsequently matched to genetic material recovered from the scene.

After their convictions were formally vacated, the five wrongly convicted men filed a civil suit against the city, whichsettled in 2014 for a reported $41 million.

In 2016, the menreceived an additional $3.9 million settlementfrom the New York State Court of Claims.

08of 10Accused — Then ExoneratedGetty ImagesThe “Exonerated Five” (from left: Richardson, McCray, Santana, Wise and Salaam) are seen together at the premiere of the 2019NetflixminiseriesWhen They See Us, based on the real events of the 1989 Central Park jogger case.

08of 10

Accused — Then Exonerated

Getty Images

The “Exonerated Five” (from left: Richardson, McCray, Santana, Wise and Salaam) are seen together at the premiere of the 2019NetflixminiseriesWhen They See Us, based on the real events of the 1989 Central Park jogger case.

09of 10LegacyCentral Park Five.Kevin Winter/GettyAs their story became part of the national conversation thanks to the popularity of the Netflix series, the Exonerated Fivereceived a standing ovation at the BET Awardsin July 2019. “Your truth is the foundation your legacy will be built on,” Santana said.In December 2022,ABC News reportedthat a Central Park entrance was renamed “Gate of the Exonerated” to honor the five men whose lives were forever changed because of their wrongful conviction. Rev. Al Sharpton, who was at the ceremony alongside N.Y.C. Mayor Eric Adams and members of the Exonerated Five, remarked, “As long as there’s a Central Park, the story will be told about these five young men.”

09of 10

Legacy

Central Park Five.Kevin Winter/Getty

As their story became part of the national conversation thanks to the popularity of the Netflix series, the Exonerated Fivereceived a standing ovation at the BET Awardsin July 2019. “Your truth is the foundation your legacy will be built on,” Santana said.

In December 2022,ABC News reportedthat a Central Park entrance was renamed “Gate of the Exonerated” to honor the five men whose lives were forever changed because of their wrongful conviction. Rev. Al Sharpton, who was at the ceremony alongside N.Y.C. Mayor Eric Adams and members of the Exonerated Five, remarked, “As long as there’s a Central Park, the story will be told about these five young men.”

10of 10

Backing Trump’s Opponent

Kevin Richardson, Yusef Salaam, Korey Wise, Rev. Al Sharpton and Raymond Santana.Chip Somodevilla/Getty

Chip Somodevilla/Getty

The Exonerated Five were invited to speak at the2024 Democratic National Conventionto express their support for Trump’s Democratic White House challenger,Kamala Harris. Salaam, Wise, Santana and Richardson traveled to Chicago to participate.

“Thirty-five years ago, my friends and I were in prison for a crime we did not commit. Our youth was stolen from us,” Wise said on the stage. “Every day as we walked into courtrooms, people screamed at us, threatened us, because of Donald Trump.”

“Forty-Five wanted us un-alive. He wanted us dead,” Salaam added on.

Looking around at the other men who were caught up in the Central Park 5 jogger case, Salaam said, “I love these guys, these are my brothers.”

source: people.com