After hours of interrogation, four of the youth confessed to the beating & rape of Trisha Meili. The teens would later recant their confessions-insisting that the confessions were forced out of exhaustion & manipulation. The Central Park Five, as they would become known, were plastered across television screens everywhere as symbols of Urban Lawlessness. The term "wilding" would become a household name-synonymous with Urban Mayhem. The teens would be convicted in a highly sensational & dramatic 1990 trial; but twelve years later their convictions would be overturned as Convicted Serial Rapist & Murderer Matias Reyes confessed to committing the crime alone. DNA would confirm his assertion to be true. he was never charged for the crimes, as the Statute of Limitations had expired. He is, however, serving a Life Sentence for his other crimes. Each of The Central Park Five had served between 6 & 13 years in prison before their convictions were thrown out. a $250 million civil rights lawsuit against police and prosecutors; but Mayor's Rudy Giuliani & Michael Bloomberg continuously blocked efforts to negotiate a settlement.
As for the victim's part in this, Trisha Meili was beaten so badly that she remained in a coma for twelve days. She suffered suffered Fractures To Her Skull, Permanent Brain Damage, and has no memory of the events of her horrible encounter.
The $40 Million Settlement is said to equal $1 Million for each year of incarceration. The deal still requires approval by The City Comptroller & the Federal Court. Partial credit for the push to finally settle the case goes to famed Director Ken Burns, and the release of his Award Winning 2012 Documentary "The Central Park Five" which helped push the case back into the consciousness of the public.