Full Breakdown
Reopening of Cornell Fraternity Sexual-Assault Investigation
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event
Tompkins County District Attorney Matthew Van Houten announced that his office will present the alleged October 19 2024 assault at Cornell University’s Chi Phi fraternity house to a grand jury. The decision follows a civil lawsuit filed by a former student, identified only as Jane Doe, alleging she was drugged and repeatedly raped by seven fraternity members. No criminal charges were filed after the original 2024 police report.
Background & Context
The Chi Phi chapter, a campus fixture for more than a century, was barred from Cornell’s Ithaca campus after the incident. Doe reported the assault to the Cornell University Police Department on November 8 2024. The university conducted a Title IX investigation, resulting in a range of sanctions that included expulsions and suspensions, and the chapter remained closed. Doe’s lawsuit, filed on September 16, names the seven accused students—Matthew Ingalls, Johnathan Newell, Winston Lee, Gillio Lopes, Diego Sarabia, Scott Norris and Scott Kretzschmar—along with the fraternity, Cornell, her sorority (Delta Delta Delta), and a local bar.
Data & Statistics
- Seven men are named in the complaint.
- Two were expelled; the remaining five received suspensions, workshops or essay assignments, according to the plaintiff’s attorney.
- The alleged assault lasted from roughly 1:42 a.m. until about 5:45 a.m. on the night of the incident.
- No arrests were made; the case remained criminally inactive until the recent reopening.
Official Statements & Responses
He noted that Doe’s November 2024 sworn statement described her drug use and sexual activity as “voluntary, conscious, and consensual,” which guided the original decision not to prosecute.
Criticism & Opposition
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez condemned what she called a “culture of rape” at elite institutions, citing the fraternity’s group-chat messages as evidence of normalized misconduct. Ithaca Mayor Robert G. Cantelmo called for a pause on all Greek-life activities until Cornell conducts a full accounting of its safety protocols. Both officials argue that the university’s disciplinary response was insufficient.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Doe’s attorney Thomas P. Giuffra contends that investigators never followed up with her after the initial interview and that critical evidence—such as a Snapchat group chat inviting participants—was not reviewed by the DA’s office. The Ithaca Police Department says it was not notified of the incident until the lawsuit surfaced.
Verbatim Quotes
- “It's our intention to present the case to the Tompkins County grand jury with Jane Doe's cooperation,” — Van Houten, county district attorney
- “Seeking justice sometimes requires us to reconsider or reopen cases when we are provided with additional evidence,” — Van Houten, county district attorney
- “Other than her initial contact with Cornell Police, she was not contacted by investigators from the Tompkins County District Attorney’s Office or any investigators trained in interviewing rape survivors,” — Thomas P. Giuffra, attorney
- “Not one of these guys was arrested. Not one. That I can tell you for a fact,” — Thomas P. Giuffra, attorney
What’s Next
Van Houten indicated that a senior prosecutor will prepare the case for the Tompkins County grand jury, with the goal of presenting evidence within the next 45 days.