Five men were wrongfully convicted in infamous Central Park # ##s . The 1989 crime polarized New York City along racial lines , and sent five to prison . In 2002 , a serial rapist and murderer confessed to the crime and said he had acted alone . Multi - million - dollar settlement ` Robert M. Morgenthau , the Manhattan district attorney at the time , ordered a new investigation and , on his recommendation , a judge vacated the convictions . ` closes a very difficult chapter '' in NYC history , comptroller says .
Five men were wrongfully convicted in infamous Central Park # ##s . The 1989 crime polarized New York City along racial lines , and sent five to prison . In 2002 , a serial rapist and murderer confessed to the crime and said he had acted alone . Multi - million - dollar settlement ` ` closes a very difficult chapter '' in NYC history , comptroller says .