Antron McCray Biography

Antron McCray is one of the five teenagers who were convicted of rape and assault in the 1989 Central Park jogger case. He was 15 years old at the time.

Antron McCray Age

Antron is 45 years old as of 2019.

Antron McCray Wife

Antron is now married and he lives with his wife and family in Georgia.

Antron revealed how his wrongful conviction has impacted the way he parents his own children to CBS.

He said; “I preach to my kids, ‘Just tell the truth. Be true to who you are.’ Honestly, the last time I lied, got me seven-and-a-half years for something I didn’t do.”

Antron McCray Father

On May 12, Antron gave an interview to CBS talking about the interrogation he experienced in 1989. He also spoke about his father. He said;

“I just kept telling the truth at first. They asked to speak to my father. My father left the room with them. Came back in the room, he just changed. Cursing, yelling at me.

And he said, ‘Tell these people what they wanna hear so you go home.’ I’m like, ‘Dad, but I didn’t do anything.’ The police is yelling at me. My father yelling at me. And I just like, ‘All right. I did it.’ And I looked up to my father. He is my hero. But he gave up on me. You know, I was telling the truth and he just told me to lie.”

Antron also revealed that he never forgave his father. He said, “No. Didn’t want to. My life was ruined. Why should I? He’s a coward.”

In another interview with The New York Times, Antron spoke about his mixed feelings about his father. He said; “I struggle with [my feelings toward my father].” He continued, “Sometimes I love him.

Most of the time, I hate him. I lost a lot, you know, for something I didn’t do. He just flipped on me, and I just can’t get past that. It’s real hard. I did seven and a half years [including time spent detained during the trial] for something I didn’t do, and I just can’t get over it.”

Antron McCray When They See Us

In the Netflix miniseries, Antron is portrayed by Jovan Adepo.

Antron McCray Central  Park Jogger Case

In 1989, Antron was arrested in connection to the rape of Trisha Meili, known then as the Central Park jogger. He was 15 years old then.

He was convicted of the rape of Meili, along with Korey Wise, Yusef Salaam, Raymond Santana, and Kevin Richardson.

He was tried as a juvenile and convicted of rape and assault. He was sentenced to five to ten years in prison. He was released after serving 7 years in prison.

Exoneration

In 2002, a serial rapist named Matias Reyes who was serving life for murder and other crimes admitted to the crime of raping the jogger.

A DNA test was conducted and it linked him to the crime. The test exonerated Antron and the four other men.

Following their exoneration, the City of New York paid them a settlement of $41 million, which was approximately one million for each of their years spent in prison.

Even with compensation, the damage was however done. In an interview with The Times, Antron was asked how he spends his life and he said;

“I’m damaged, you know? I know I need help. But I feel like I’m too old to get help now. I’m 45 years old, so I’m just focused on my kids. I’m not saying it’s the right thing to do. I just stay busy. I stay in the gym. I ride my motorcycle. But it eats me up every day. Eats me alive. My wife is trying to get me help but I keep refusing. That’s just where I’m at right now. I don’t know what to do.”