What to Know About the Cornell Gang Rape Lawsuit and the Reopened Investigation

Content warning: This article discusses rape and sexual assault.An anonymous woman, known as Jane Doe, has filed a 101-page lawsuit against the prestigious Cornell University in New York and seven male students, alleging that she endured an hours-long gang rape in a fraternity house. Cornell’s Chi Phi chapter was barred from campus after the alleged incident, though none of the individuals allegedly involved faced criminal charges, according to Tompkins County District Attorney Matthew Van Houten. Collectively, they are being referred to as the “Cornell Seven.”Doe’s attorney, Thomas Giuffra, told the press that his client’s dreams have been “destroyed by a group of men who sought to abuse and humiliate her” and that she was forced to endure “unspeakable horrors.”This is what the lawsuit alleges and the progress of the case so far.Jump to:What happened in the Cornell University gang rape case?What happened in the Snapchat group at Cornell University?What has Cornell University done about the gang rape case?What happened in the Cornell University gang rape case?In the civil complaint, Doe claims the alleged attack took place in October 2024 at Cornell’s Chi Phi fraternity house in Ithaca, New York, when she was 20 years old, after she pregamed with her sorority sisters before heading out to a bar. Later, while intoxicated, she went to the fraternity house to meet with a male student, Matthew Ingalls, who she believed to be a friend.While there, she claims she was later pressured into taking ketamine by Ingalls and Johnathan Newell, and was then sexually assaulted by them. As the night progressed, five other students, over the span of several hours, sexually assaulted and/or degraded her at the Chi Phi fraternity house. All are accused of pouring ketamine on Doe’s body without her consent and snorting the drugs off.The suit names the Cornell Seven as: Matthew Ingalls, Johnathan Newell, Winston Lee, Gillio Lopes, Diego Sarabia, Scott Norris, and Scott Kretzschmar.Doe’s suit also details how she was let down by adults on campus who were supposed to be responsible for the welfare of students (such as her sorority house mother, who Ubered with her to a bar rather than encouraging Doe to stay home after seeing she had consumed vodka).A bar that served Doe alcohol despite her being under the age of 21 (and having a stamp on her hand to denote that) is also listed in the suit.What happened in the Snapchat group at Cornell University?It’s claimed that two of the men messaged in an active Snapchat group, called Chi Phi Actives, advertising that there was “free pussy” in their fraternity house and inviting others to join.Several men in the group arrived at the fraternity house as a result, and the men moved Doe from room to room, continuing to assault her while she was rendered immobile by the drugs. Doe claims to have eventually lost consciousness at 5:45 a.m.Including in lawsuit documents and on CornellSevenGiuffra said, in a report by The Independent, that Cornell University is meant to educate the “best and brightest” of minds, and that it is “truly disheartening that nobody tried to help her and instead laughing comments were made [in the Snapchat group].”What has Cornell University done about the gang rape case? In November 2024, the Cornell University Police Department was informed by Doe about what had happened and an internal investigation was launched, with—according to Doe’s attorney—only two of the seven male students involved allegedly being expelled as a result. Others were reportedly tasked with attending workshops or essay-writing as “punishment.”Cornell later countered that claim on September 28, stating that there was a range of sanctions for the accused students—including suspensions and expulsions—but “none of the individuals charged were offered the opportunity to write essays as a sole consequence of their involvement.”According to Cornell’s statement: “Any suggestion that the University did not impose consequential punishments for those involved is false. A continuation of the false narrative that there were minimal consequences in this case is irresponsible, will make survivors feel less safe and supported, and will perpetuate the underreporting of sexual assault.”Prosecutors in central New York say they are reopening the investigation after a civil lawsuit filed earlier this month sparked outrage about the incident.“It’s our intention to present the case to the Tompkins County grand jury with Jane Doe’s cooperation,” Matthew Van Houten, Tompkins County District Attorney, said via ABC News. “We want to reexamine whether there's additional evidence that we were not aware of in November of 2024, that exists now that would change our assessment of the case and would result in the grand jury finding that there was criminal conduct.”Including in lawsuit documents and on CornellSevenCornell UniversityIn a statement shared on September 21, Cornell University’s Kyle Kimball, vice president for university relations, said, “Cornell University is aware of a lawsuit concerning the deeply disturbing allegations of sexual assault involving members of the student community that occurred in 2024.“The Cornell Office of Civil Rights and the Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards investigated and adjudicated the allegations consistent with university policies. The Xi chapter of Chi Phi fraternity remains barred from our campus. Federal privacy law prohibits Cornell from disclosing specific information regarding individual students and we therefore are unable to make a public statement on any other disciplinary response.“Violations of university policies could lead to sanctions up to and including suspension or expulsion. We will respond in detail through the legal process.”An attorney for defendant Scott Kretzschmar denied the allegations and said the incident detailed in the complaint “did not happen.”“At bottom, Scott never sexually assaulted or even touched the plaintiff in any way. Period,” his attorney Jeremy Saland said. “We look forward to confronting the plaintiff in a court of law for her selfishly false claims with both the evidence and her own words.”Defendant Scott Norris denied engaging in sexual activity or drug use, though he acknowledged that he sent a message that was included in the complaint.“I did not participate in any sexual activity or drug use,” he said through an attorney. “I was not found responsible by Cornell for any of the accusations involving sexual activity and drug use for which others received serious consequences. I thoughtlessly engaged in Snapchat and briefly stopped in the room where misconduct happened but not when it happened.”If you or someone you know has experienced sexual assault, support is available. You can contact the RAINN National Sexual Assault Hotline at 800-656-HOPE (4673) or access support and resources through RAINN. If you are in immediate danger or need emergency medical assistance, call 911.