Ithaca, New York: A 2024 sexual assault case involving Cornell Universitys Chi Phi fraternity has returned to the spotlight after a former student filed a civil lawsuit accusing seven fraternity members of drugging and sexually assaulting her. The woman, identified as Jane Doe in court documents, has also sued Cornell University and several organisations connected with the fraternity and campus social groups. The allegations are contained in a civil complaint and have not been proven in court. The case has gained renewed attention after the Tompkins County District Attorney's Office said it is reopening the criminal investigation. Prosecutors are now reviewing the allegations and considering whether the evidence supports criminal charges.
What Does the Lawsuit Allege?
According to the complaint, the alleged incident took place on the night of October 19, 2024, and continued into the early hours of October 20 at the Chi Phi fraternity house in Ithaca. Doe was 20 years old at the time and was a Cornell student. The lawsuit says she had been drinking earlier in the evening before eventually going to the fraternity house to meet a friend. The complaint alleges that two fraternity members pressured her to consume a substance they represented as ketamine. It further claims that she was subsequently sexually assaulted while in an impaired state. The lawsuit names seven men as defendants: Matthew Ingalls, Johnathan Newell, Winston Lee, Gillio Lopes, Diego Sarabia, Scott Norris and Scott Kretzschmar. The defendants have not been convicted of the alleged offences, and the claims remain subject to the legal process.
The Snapchat Message at the Centre of the Case
One of the most prominent pieces of evidence described in the lawsuit is an alleged Snapchat message. The complaint says a message was posted in a group chat called Chi Phi Actives while the woman was inside the fraternity house. According to the lawsuit, the message invited other fraternity members upstairs using an explicit reference to the woman. The filing alleges that additional fraternity members subsequently entered the room and that the sexual assault continued for several hours. A screenshot of the alleged group-chat message was included in the court filing. The message has since become one of the central details reported about the case.
Allegations of Drugging and Prolonged Assault
The civil complaint describes an extended period during which the plaintiff alleges she was repeatedly subjected to sexual abuse and pressured to consume drugs. According to the filing, she eventually became unconscious in the early morning. The lawsuit says she later noticed bruising and began recalling parts of what allegedly happened. Because these details come from the plaintiff's complaint, they represent allegations rather than findings established by a court. The defendants will have an opportunity to respond through the legal process.
When Was the Incident Reported?
The lawsuit says Doe reported the incident to Cornell University Police on November 8, 2024, several weeks after the alleged assault. The case subsequently became the subject of investigations involving the university and law enforcement. Cornell's Chi Phi chapter was placed under suspension following the allegations, and the university conducted a Title IX investigation. Reports indicate that multiple disciplinary hearings were later held as part of the university's internal process. The plaintiff's attorney has criticised the university's handling of the matter, while Cornell has maintained that it followed its institutional procedures.
Why Is the Criminal Investigation Being Reopened?
The latest development is the decision by the Tompkins County District Attorney's Office to revisit the criminal case.District Attorney Matthew Van Houten told ABC News that prosecutors intend to review the evidence and could present the matter to a grand jury, with the plaintiff's cooperation. The DA's office previously declined to bring criminal charges after its 2024 review. Van Houten said the initial account provided to authorities did not, in the office's assessment at the time, allege that the woman had been unknowingly drugged, forced into sexual activity or physically incapacitated. Her attorney has disputed that characterization and criticised the handling of the original investigation. The reopened investigation means authorities will now have another opportunity to examine the allegations and available evidence.
Cornell's Response
Cornell University has issued a statement following the lawsuit, saying it takes allegations of sexual violence seriously. The university has also pointed to its investigation and disciplinary process in response to questions surrounding the case. The university and other organisations named in the lawsuit are now facing the claims through the civil court process.
What Happens Next?
The case now has both civil and criminal dimensions. The civil lawsuit seeks accountability and damages from Cornell, fraternity-related organisations and the individuals named as defendants. Separately, prosecutors are reviewing the allegations again to determine whether criminal proceedings should follow. For now, the accusations remain allegations, and no criminal conviction has been established against the seven men named in the lawsuit. The renewed investigation is likely to place further attention on the evidence surrounding the 2024 incident, Cornell's response, fraternity oversight and the handling of sexual-assault complaints on university campuses.
