Independent Case Archive

Cornell
Seven

Documenting the allegations, university proceedings, public records, reporting, and civil litigation surrounding an alleged October 2024 sexual assault at Cornell University.

What Happened?

In October 2024, a 20-year-old Cornell student went to the Chi Phi fraternity house to meet someone she considered a friend. According to her lawsuit, what followed was hours of drugging and sexual assault.

The complaint alleges that members of Chi Phi coerced her into taking ketamine, supplied her with marijuana and high-proof alcohol, and sexually assaulted her while she was incapable of consenting. It alleges that one fraternity member then sent a message advertising “free pussy” upstairs to the fraternity’s group chat, after which additional men entered the room. She says she tried to cover herself and push one of them away.

The lawsuit further alleges that all seven men named on this site were present while ketamine was poured and snorted from her body, and that she was made to consume additional ketamine as the assaults continued. According to the complaint, the ordeal lasted until approximately 5:45 a.m.

She reported what happened to Cornell University Police on November 8, 2024. Cornell temporarily suspended Chi Phi and several students while its investigation proceeded. The civil complaint says students were given an opportunity to submit essays in an effort to mitigate temporary suspensions. Jane Doe's attorney has said two respondents were expelled. Cornell later confirmed that its completed Title IX process resulted in both expulsions and suspensions, but it has not publicly identified which respondents received which sanctions.

No criminal charges were filed in 2024. In late September 2026, Tompkins County District Attorney Matthew Van Houten reopened the criminal investigation and began preparing the case for possible grand-jury presentation. On October 1, 2026, Gov. Kathy Hochul appointed the New York Attorney General's Office as special prosecutor, transferring control of the reopened criminal investigation to Attorney General Letitia James's office. Jane Doe's civil lawsuit, filed September 14, 2026, remains pending.

These are the seven men the complaint accuses of direct participation in the alleged assaults.

Read the Full Case File

Rapists

MI
Matthew Ingalls 01

Matthew Ingalls

Cornell Student

According to the complaint, Ingalls helped pressure Jane Doe to take ketamine and high-proof alcohol, sexually assaulted her, joined the group in using ketamine from her body, and later assaulted her again with Winston Lee.

Read More
JN
Jonathan Newell 02

Jonathan Newell

Cornell Student

According to the complaint, Newell pressured Jane Doe to take ketamine and alcohol, sexually assaulted her, sent the group-chat message inviting others upstairs, forced her to take more ketamine, and joined the group in using ketamine from her body.

Read More
WL
Winston Lee 03

Lee Jun Hyung aka Winston Lee

Cornell Student

According to the complaint, Lee joined the group in pouring and snorting ketamine from Jane Doe's body and later, with Ingalls, gave her more ketamine and sexually assaulted her while she was described as completely incapacitated.

Read More
GL
Gillio Lopes 04

Gillio Lopes

Cornell Student

According to the complaint, Lopes entered the room, kissed Jane Doe without consent, sexually assaulted her with Newell, and later joined the group in pouring and snorting ketamine from her body.

Read More
DS
Diego Sarabia 05

Diego Sarabia

Cornell Student

According to the complaint, Sarabia grabbed Jane Doe's face and kissed her without consent after she tried to hide under the covers, then joined the group in pouring and snorting ketamine from her body.

Read More
SN
Scott Norris 06

Scott Norris

Cornell Student

According to the complaint, Norris joined the group in pouring and snorting ketamine from Jane Doe's body. A Snapchat image reproduced in the filing also shows an account labeled “SCOTT NORRIS” replying in the Chi Phi Actives chat after Newell's message.

Read More
SK
Scott Kretzschmar 07

Scott Kretzschmar

Cornell Student

According to the complaint, Kretzschmar joined the group in pouring and snorting ketamine from Jane Doe's body. A Snapchat image reproduced in the filing also shows an account labeled “SCOTT KRETZSCHMAR” participating in the Chi Phi Actives discussion after Newell's message.

Read More

Latest Developments

Case Timeline

Current Status

The New York Attorney General's Office continues to lead the reopened criminal investigation as special prosecutor. Cornell's Board has now retained former U.S. Deputy Attorney General Sally Yates and King & Spalding for a broad independent review that specifically includes whether Cornell followed its own policies in Jane Doe's case. New ABC police-interview video shows investigators pressing fraternity members on the basis for claims that the sexual activity was consensual, while Cornell has confirmed that two men named in Jane Doe's lawsuit remain enrolled and attending classes. A Faculty Senate no-confidence resolution is pending, RAINN reports a 73% surge in National Sexual Assault Hotline contacts and has launched a Cornell-linked #NoMoreExcuses law-reform campaign, and campus organizing has expanded from an Oct. 5 rally attended by thousands to the Oct. 7 Zero Day sit-in and economic blackout. Jane Doe and her family have also faced escalating threats as attempts to expose her identity continue.

Updated through October 7, 2026 · 11:30 a.m. PT

Oct 7
2026

Student Organizing · Cornell Black Students United · Cornell NAACP

“Zero Day” Seven-Hour Sit-In and Economic Blackout Begins

Cornell Black Students United and Cornell NAACP launched a seven-hour sit-in at Toni Morrison Dining Hall from 1:30–8:30 p.m. Eastern, paired with a campuswide economic blackout. Organizers urged students to avoid purchases, meal swipes and Big Red Bucks, with the seven-hour duration chosen to symbolize the period organizers say Jane Doe endured. As of the Sources page's 11:30 a.m. Pacific cutoff, the action was underway and no final turnout or result had yet been reported.

Read the Zero Day Update

Oct 7
2026

ABC News · CUPD Interview Video · Jane Doe Testimony

Police-Interview Videos Show Investigators Pressing Fraternity Members on How They “Knew” Conduct Was Consensual

ABC News obtained Cornell University Police interview video showing investigators pressing Chi Phi members on the basis for claims they had heard that the sexual activity was consensual. One witness could not recall exactly what had been said and relied on what the men involved had reportedly told others. ABC also obtained portions of Jane Doe's later Cornell testimony, in which she described feeling held up “like bait,” remembered men moving in and out of a dark room and asked Cornell to make the community safer.

Watch and Read the ABC Interview Update

Oct 7
2026

Cornell Faculty Senate · Official Faculty Governance

Faculty Senate Will Debate a No-Confidence Resolution Over Cornell's Sexual-Assault Response

A formal no-confidence resolution is now pending before Cornell's Faculty Senate. The proposed resolution says the Senate has no confidence in the central administration's ability to effectively address the ongoing sexual-assault crisis. Eleven faculty senators are listed as co-sponsors, with a larger supporting-faculty list. The resolution has not passed; debate is scheduled for Oct. 14 and Oct. 28, followed by electronic voting.

Read the Faculty No-Confidence Record

Oct 7
2026

Cornell Faculty Webinar · CNN

Cornell Confirms Two Men Named in Jane Doe's Suit Remain Enrolled and Attending Classes

CNN reported that Cornell officials confirmed during a faculty webinar that two men named in Jane Doe's civil lawsuit remain enrolled and are attending classes. Faculty raised questions about what instructors are expected to do when accused students are present in their classrooms. The report did not identify which two men remain enrolled, so the Sources archive does not infer or assign those statuses to particular defendants.

Read the Current Enrollment Update

Oct 7
2026

The Washington Post · Institutional Data

More Than 1,200 Cornell Sexual-Violence Reports Produced Few of the Most Serious Sanctions

A Washington Post analysis found more than 1,200 reported incidents at Cornell from 2018 through 2024, while the most serious disciplinary outcomes during that period included seven expulsions or dismissals and 14 suspensions. The analysis also found that Cornell reports were more likely than statewide reports to reach law enforcement but less likely to become formal university cases or end in the most serious forms of discipline.

Read the Reports vs. Discipline Data

Oct 7
2026

RAINN · New York State Assembly · Law Reform

RAINN Launches #NoMoreExcuses Campaign as New York Reexamines Consent Law

RAINN launched a Cornell-specific #NoMoreExcuses campaign connecting Jane Doe's case to the debate over New York sexual-assault law and voluntary intoxication, using the message “BEING DRUNK IS NOT CONSENT.” RAINN is calling for a formal recommendation supporting legislation in the 2027 session. The New York State Assembly has separately confirmed a working group examining sexual-assault statutes and preparing legislative recommendations before year-end.

Read the #NoMoreExcuses Campaign Update

Oct 7
2026

The Verge · Survivor Solidarity · Identity Protection

Doxxing Backlash Fuels the #IAmJaneDoe Solidarity Wave

The Verge reported that efforts to expose Jane Doe's identity helped intensify the #IAmJaneDoe campaign. Survivors and supporters used the phrase both to protect her anonymity and to share their own experiences, turning attempts to unmask one survivor into a broader identity-protection and solidarity movement.

Read the Solidarity Update

Oct 6–7
2026

Thomas Giuffra · CNN · The Verge

Threats Escalate to Jane Doe's Family as Doxxing Harms Uninvolved Women

Jane Doe's attorney Thomas Giuffra told CNN that a caller threatened to shoot Jane Doe, her mother and her father and said the threat was being reported to police. The Verge separately documented harassment directed at three women falsely identified as Jane Doe and examined how doxxing campaigns can endanger both the actual survivor and uninvolved people while deterring survivors from reporting.

Read the Threat and Doxxing Update

Oct 6
2026

Cornell Board of Trustees · Sally Yates · King & Spalding

Cornell Retains Sally Yates for the Independent Review

Cornell's Board of Trustees retained former U.S. Deputy Attorney General Sally Yates and King & Spalding to conduct the independent review promised amid scrutiny of Cornell's handling of Jane Doe's case. The announced scope includes survivor support, investigations, hearings and appeals, campus police, prosecutor coordination, Greek-life oversight, Board oversight and a detailed examination of whether Cornell followed its own policies in Jane Doe's case.

Read the Independent Review Appointment

Oct 6
2026

RAINN · National Sexual Assault Hotline

RAINN Reports a 73% Surge in National Sexual Assault Hotline Contacts

RAINN reported that National Sexual Assault Hotline contacts rose 73% over the previous week as coverage of Jane Doe's case spread nationally, with Monday's contact volume more than double normal levels. RAINN said many people specifically mentioned the Cornell coverage as a reason they reached out, giving the case a measurable impact beyond petitions, protests and social-media attention.

Read the RAINN Hotline Impact Record

Oct 5–6
2026

ABC News · Recorded Calls · CUPD Investigative Records

Recorded Calls, “Damage Control” Messages and a Witness-Silencing Tip Expand the 2024 Record

ABC published portions of calls Jane Doe recorded while trying to reconstruct the night, including a Nov. 7 call in which she told Matthew Ingalls that what happened would be classified as gang rape. Internal records also show Chi Phi members discussing how to respond after the police report. ABC then reported that CUPD received an anonymous tip one day after the Nov. 8 crime alert alleging that Chi Phi leadership had asked a potential witness to stay quiet to avoid damaging the reputation of the people involved and the fraternity.

Read the Recorded Calls and Tip

Oct 5
2026

NBC News · 2024 Witness Account · CUPD Investigation

Student Who Gave CUPD Leads Says She Feels “Betrayed” by How the Case Was Handled

An anonymous Cornell student told NBC News that she and a friend gave CUPD information after the 2024 crime alert, including messages, possible witnesses, secondhand information about drugs and familiarity with the Chi Phi house. She said she believed the information was in good hands at the time but now feels “betrayed” by how the case was handled.

Read the Witness Account

Oct 5
2026

Thomas Giuffra · PEOPLE · Evidence Preservation

Jane Doe's Attorney Says He Fears Digital Evidence Was Deleted

Thomas Giuffra said he fears fraternity members deleted messages and other digital evidence after realizing the seriousness of the situation. He said the surviving Snapchat screenshot was available because a fraternity member who was not present that night opened the group messages the next morning. The public record has not established exactly what was deleted, by whom or what recoverable material remains.

Read the Evidence-Preservation Concern

Oct 5
2026

CUPD Draft Documents · CNN · Phone-Record Preservation

Cornell Police Drafted Verizon and T-Mobile Preservation Letters for Potential Phone Evidence

Documents reviewed by CNN show CUPD drafted letters to Verizon and T-Mobile on Nov. 15, 2024 directing the carriers to preserve potentially relevant account data while police sought a signed warrant. The drafts referenced emails, texts, calls, photographs and video messages. CNN reported that it remained unclear whether the letters were sent, whether warrants or subpoenas followed or whether prosecutors knew about the requested records.

Read the Phone-Evidence Record

Oct 5–7
2026

Cornell Daily Sun · Reuters · Associated Press · Survivor Advocacy

Justice for Survivors Rally Draws Thousands; Roughly 40 Student Organizations Help Organize

The Oct. 5 Justice for Survivors rally became one of the largest campus responses to the case. Reuters initially described perhaps 1,000 or more participants, while later Cornell Daily Sun reporting described thousands filling Ho Plaza and said roughly 40 student organizations helped organize the demonstration. Participants called for survivor support, stronger investigations, policy changes, institutional accountability and broader reform.

Read the Rally and Organizing Update

Oct 5
2026

Cornell Daily Sun · Day Hall · Anonymous Activism

Anonymous Activists Damage Day Hall Before the Survivor Rally

Before the larger daytime rally, anonymous activists smashed glass at Day Hall, covered a security camera and painted messages criticizing Cornell's response to sexual violence. Cornell said it was investigating. The Sources archive documents the vandalism as a separate event and does not attribute it to organizers or participants in the peaceful Justice for Survivors rally without evidence linking them.

Read the Day Hall Record

Oct 5–7
2026

Change.org · Alumni Advocacy · Donor Pressure

Alumni Petition Surges From 50,000 to More Than 60,000 Verified Signatures

The “CORNELL ALUMNI SUPPORTING JANE DOE” petition passed 50,000 verified signatures on Oct. 5 and continued growing past 60,000 by the Oct. 7 update. The campaign calls for administrative accountability, greater investigation transparency, a public apology and audit, policy reforms and donor pressure on Cornell.

Read the Alumni Petition Update

Oct 5
2026

The Washington Post · Trauma and Memory Experts

Experts Explain Why Sexual-Assault Memories Can Be Fragmented or Change in Disclosure Over Time

As public debate focused on differences between Jane Doe's earliest messages and later accounts, The Washington Post examined trauma and memory science. Experts said extreme stress can interfere with how events are encoded and recalled and that survivors may not immediately understand, label or disclose an experience in the same terms they use later. The experts were discussing trauma generally and were not personally evaluating Jane Doe.

Read the Trauma and Memory Context

Oct 4
2026

Cornell Disciplinary Records · New York Times Reporting

Records Identify Cornell's Sanctions for All Seven Men

Newly reported disciplinary records identify Matthew Ingalls and Jonathan Newell as the two men Cornell expelled after findings of responsibility for sexual assault. Winston Lee received a two-year suspension followed by disciplinary probation, while Gillio Lopes received a three-semester suspension and two years of probation. Diego Sarabia, who had already graduated, received a three-year campus ban. Scott Norris and Scott Kretzschmar received no-contact orders, required education and reflection papers; Kretzschmar was separately found responsible for attempted sexual exploitation.

Read the Named Disciplinary Outcomes

Oct 4
2026

CUPD Investigative Notes · ABC News · CNN · Thomas Giuffra

DA's Office Declined Additional CUPD Material; Jane Doe's Attorney Raises Broader Concerns

Newly reported CUPD notes show that prosecutors were told in November 2024 that campus police had conducted additional interviews after speaking with Jane Doe, but the District Attorney's Office did not request that additional material before declining charges. Jane Doe's attorney Thomas Giuffra told CNN that Attorney General Letitia James's office has already contacted him and is bringing in people experienced in criminal investigations and prosecutions. He also said Jane Doe recorded calls with several of the accused men and that his side still possesses some of those recordings.

Giuffra further said he believes the original handling amounted to a cover-up and that then-District Attorney Matthew Van Houten had an agenda to protect Cornell. He said he believes additional photos or videos may have existed, speculated that some material may have been destroyed, and said Jane Doe's blackout periods leave open the possibility that more than seven men participated. Those are Giuffra's publicly stated beliefs and concerns; the Attorney General's renewed criminal investigation is now positioned to test them against the evidence.

Read the Investigative Failure Update

Oct 4
2026

Cornell President Michael Kotlikoff · Cornell Daily Sun · CBS News

“We Owe It to Jane Doe”: Kotlikoff Says Cornell Must Do Better

President Michael Kotlikoff called the case a defining moment and said Cornell's administration and community “must do better.” He said Cornell needs systems in which survivors feel safe coming forward, investigations are rigorous and trauma-informed, and people reporting sexual violence receive meaningful support. He also said Cornell will examine the role of Greek life, seek community input and begin making changes without waiting for the outside review to finish.

Read Cornell's Broader Response

Oct 4
2026

Thomas Giuffra · CNN · Reuters

Jane Doe Receives Threats as Uninvolved Women Are Misidentified

Jane Doe's attorney said she has received multiple threats intended to pressure or intimidate her over the lawsuit. Giuffra also said at least three women who were not Jane Doe were wrongly identified online and that some of those uninvolved women received threats as well. He said he personally received a threat on the morning of his CNN interview.

Read the Threats and Misidentification Update

Oct 4
2026

Associated Press · Reuters · Survivor Solidarity

“I Am Jane Doe” Becomes a National Solidarity Campaign

Women across social media, joined by some men, began posting “I am Jane Doe” in solidarity with the Cornell survivor. Reporting says some participants deliberately used the phrase to flood social platforms and search results, making attempts to identify the real Jane Doe harder and less reliable while turning her pseudonym into a broader statement of survivor solidarity.

Read the “I Am Jane Doe” Update

Oct 4
2026

Defense Request · New York Attorney General · CNN

Defense Lawyer Asks Letitia James to Personally Recuse

Attorney Andrew Miltenberg, who represents one of the men named in Jane Doe's lawsuit, asked Attorney General Letitia James to personally step aside from the criminal investigation, arguing that her earlier public support for Jane Doe created an appearance-of-impartiality issue. The request does not seek to end the Attorney General's investigation, and James has said the case will be guided by the facts and the law. Giuffra, by contrast, told CNN he expects the new investigation to be fair and impartial.

Read the Recusal Request

Oct 4
2026

Alumni Advocacy · Financial Pressure

Alumnus Revokes Planned 50% Estate Bequest and Calls for a Donor Freeze

Cornell alumnus Marco Fuentes '85 said he was directing counsel to remove a planned bequest of 50% of his estate to Cornell because of the University's handling of the Chi Phi case. He also said he was contacting alumni and donor networks to advocate a freeze on contributions until leadership changes occur, moving part of the accountability campaign from public criticism to explicit financial pressure.

Read the Alumni Financial Pressure Update

Oct 3
2026

CUPD Crime Log · Cornell Daily Sun · Cornell Title IX Records

CUPD Made a Drug Arrest at Chi Phi About 22 Hours Before Jane Doe Says She Was Assaulted

An archived Cornell University Police Daily Crime Log shows that CUPD made a drug-related arrest at the Chi Phi house at 107 Edgemoor Lane and referred an individual to Cornell's Office of Student Conduct roughly 22 hours before Jane Doe says the assault began there. Reporting says Cornell did not place Chi Phi on interim suspension before another registered event later on October 19. The same reporting cites a Cornell hearing-panel decision describing an overdose at Chi Phi on or about October 18 and ketamine use by multiple people in the house.

Read the Same-Day Drug Arrest Record

Oct 2
2026

Cornell Title IX Records · CBS News · ABC News

565 Pages of Cornell Title IX Records Surface

CBS News obtained 565 pages of transcripts from Cornell's internal investigation, reporting roughly 50 interviews with 32 witnesses. The records include Jane Doe, six of the seven men named in the lawsuit and numerous witnesses. Newly reported details include a witness account that an accused student asked that rumors not be spread, a later description of the fraternity response as “just deny,” and additional information about ketamine, witness statements and the first police report.

Read the 565-Page Record Update

Oct 2
2026

Extended Snapchat Evidence · CBS News · ABC News

Longer Snapchat Chain Reveals Additional Messages and a Photo of Jane Doe

National outlets obtained additional portions of the Chi Phi Actives Snapchat exchange beyond the screenshot reproduced in the lawsuit. Reporting says a photograph of Jane Doe was shared in the group during the night and describes additional messages including “Shop still open?” and “Are you guys at least naked??” CBS also reported that one fraternity member told investigators about 50 people were on the particular thread, while ABC described more than 50 fraternity brothers.

Read the Extended Snapchat Record

Oct 2
2026

Unsealed Court Records · Cornell Disciplinary Proceeding

Unsealed Records Detail Scott Kretzschmar's Challenge to Cornell's Finding

Newly unsealed court records show that Scott Kretzschmar challenged Cornell's disciplinary decision after a multi-day evidentiary process. Reporting says Cornell did not find him responsible for the charged offenses of sexual assault or sexual exploitation, but did find him responsible for attempted sexual exploitation. Kretzschmar argues that he was not given adequate notice that attempted sexual exploitation was an offense for which he could be found responsible.

Read the Unsealed Disciplinary Record

Oct 2
2026

Cornell Interfraternity Council · Campus Response

All 22 IFC Fraternity Presidents Vote to Cancel Social Events for the Weekend

The presidents of all 22 Cornell Interfraternity Council fraternities unanimously voted to cancel social fraternity events for the weekend. The Cornell Daily Sun reported that the decision came in response to renewed attention surrounding Jane Doe's lawsuit and the Chi Phi case.

Read the IFC Update

Oct 2
2026

Student Organizing · Faculty / Staff Response

Twenty Student Organizations Announce “Justice for Survivors” Protest

Twenty Cornell student organizations announced a “Justice for Survivors” protest for Oct. 5 at 4:30 p.m. on Ho Plaza, with demands focused on sexual-assault prevention, survivor support, police training and institutional accountability. The Cornell chapter of the American Association of University Professors separately called on the community to join the gathering.

Read the Campus Mobilization Update

Sep 27–Oct 2
2026

Criminal Investigation · Special Prosecutor · State Action

Criminal Case Reopened, Then Transferred to the New York Attorney General

Tompkins County District Attorney Matthew Van Houten reopened the case in late September. On Oct. 1, Gov. Kathy Hochul appointed the New York Attorney General's Office as special prosecutor. At an Oct. 2 news conference, Attorney General Letitia James said her office would review the facts, gather evidence, interview witnesses and pursue prosecutions if warranted, while cautioning that a comprehensive investigation could take months. Van Houten said he supports the appointment and that his office had not been provided the full picture by Cornell. Hochul also backed changing New York law governing consent when a person's ability to consent is compromised by voluntary intoxication.

Read Criminal Investigation Update

Oct 1
2026

2024 Police Interview Transcript · CBS News · AP · WSKG

Full Police Interview Shows Jane Doe Explicitly Described Rape, Coercion and Incapacitation

New reporting on Jane Doe's Nov. 14–15, 2024 Cornell Police interviews describes a roughly 120-page transcript in which she said she had been raped, described coercion and said she became completely incapacitated. Van Houten said his office did not receive the full transcript before declining charges in 2024 and that the omitted material would have changed the investigation if the reporting is accurate.

Read the Police Interview Record

Oct 1
2026

Independent Review · Governor Statement · Cornell Response

Cornell Agrees to an Independent Outside Review of Its Handling of the Case

After Gov. Kathy Hochul called for a transparent outside review of Cornell's handling of Jane Doe's case, Cornell President Michael Kotlikoff agreed to move forward with an independent review by outside counsel. As of the Oct. 1 evening update, Cornell had not publicly identified the outside counsel or announced the full scope or timetable. The institutional review is separate from the Attorney General's special-prosecutor role.

Read Independent Review Update

Oct 1
2026

New York Attorney General · Institutional Review · Special Prosecutor

Attorney General's Role Expands From Reviewing Cornell to Leading the Criminal Investigation

Attorney General Letitia James's office had already confirmed a review of Cornell's response to the allegations. On Oct. 1, Gov. Kathy Hochul separately appointed the Attorney General's Office as special prosecutor for the criminal investigation. James's office accepted the appointment and now has authority to investigate the alleged criminal conduct and, if warranted, present evidence to a grand jury.

Read Attorney General Update

Oct 1–2
2026

Evidence Transfer Dispute · Cornell FAQ · District Attorney · WSKG

Cornell's FAQ Changes Deepen the Evidence-Transfer Dispute

Cornell first said Cornell Police had shared “all investigatory information” with prosecutors in 2024. Van Houten said his office did not receive the fraternity Snapchat evidence or Jane Doe's full police-interview transcript. Cornell removed the broad language, then revised its FAQ to specifically say CUPD shared Jane Doe's sworn statement and the Snapchat screenshot. On Oct. 2, The Cornell Daily Sun documented multiple edits to that answer, while Van Houten said his office had not been provided the full picture by Cornell.

Read the Evidence Transfer Record

Oct 1
2026

Post-Incident Communications · Medical Visits · Internal Cornell Records

Contemporary Records Trace Jane Doe's Shift From Shock and Shame to Reporting an Assault

Newly reported 2024 records show Jane Doe preserved the dress she had been wearing, photographed bruising, sought medical care two days later and later requested a rape-kit examination. Her messages moved from initial uncertainty to saying most of the night was nonconsensual and describing significant ketamine use and discomfort. She reported the incident to Cornell Police on Nov. 8 and later explicitly told investigators she had been raped.

Read the Post-Incident Record

Oct 1
2026

Chi Phi National Statement · Newly Disclosed

Chi Phi Says the Accused Members Were Removed Days After the Police Report

Chi Phi's national organization says the Cornell chapter voted unanimously to remove the accused members from its rolls three days after Jane Doe filed her police report in November 2024 and recommended permanent national expulsion. Chi Phi says its Grand Council later approved those expulsions.

Read Chi Phi's Disciplinary Account

Oct 1
2026

Cornell Student Status · October 1 Campus Video

Winston Lee and Gillio Lopes Remain Current Students; Lopes Is Documented on Campus October 1

The Cornell Daily Sun reported that Cornell's directory continued to list Winston Lee and Gillio Lopes as current students after the lawsuit became public. TMZ then published video on Oct. 1 showing Lopes physically on Cornell's campus while another student confronted him about the case. Separately, Lopes's attorney said Cornell had suspended him and imposed additional educational sanctions.

Read Current Student Status

Oct 1
2026

Student Assembly · Public Hearing · Sexual-Assault Resolutions

Student Assembly Holds Public Hearing; Multiple Sexual-Assault Resolutions Pass

Cornell's Student Assembly held its public hearing on sexual violence and institutional accountability on Oct. 1. The Associated Press reported that students and community members spoke for more than two and a half hours and that the Assembly passed several measures seeking greater transparency, a review of consent and substance-use education and free Cornell Health counseling for survivors.

Read Student Assembly Update

Oct 1
2026

Alumni Advocacy

More Than 1,000 Cornell Alumni Sign Letter Demanding Reform

A letter published by The Cornell Daily Sun says more than 1,000 Cornell alumni signed onto demands for greater transparency, clearer suspension standards, stronger survivor support and other reforms in Cornell's handling of sexual-assault reports.

Read the Alumni Response

Oct 1
2026

Federal Officials · Attributed Statements

Sens. Schumer and Gillibrand Call for Further Accountability

Sen. Chuck Schumer called for an independent and exhaustive examination of the handling of the case, while Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand described the allegations as serious and called for specialized training for personnel handling campus sexual-assault reports. Their remarks are attributed public statements, not investigative findings.

Read Federal Response

Oct 1
2026

Institutional Reputational Response

Nancy Pelosi Cancels Planned Cornell-Associated Event

A planned Cornell Institute of Politics and Global Affairs event featuring Rep. Nancy Pelosi was canceled after it was announced. The Cornell Daily Sun reported that a source familiar with the cancellation tied the decision to the ongoing Chi Phi situation. The cancellation is documented as a reputational consequence, not evidence about the underlying allegations.

Read Event Cancellation Update

Sep 28–Oct 1
2026

Defendant Accounts · Cornell Investigative Files · Attorney Statements

Internal Cornell Files Reveal the Men's Own Accounts of the Night

The New York Times obtained hundreds of pages from Cornell's internal investigation, including interviews with six of the seven men later named in the lawsuit. The Times reported that four acknowledged sexual contact with Jane Doe while maintaining it was consensual. The records also document admissions of heavy ketamine use, presence in the room and contemporaneous concern, while the men's accounts sometimes contradicted one another and differed from Jane Doe's police account.

Read the Defendant Accounts

Sep 29
2026

Prosecutor Remarks · Status Updated Oct. 1

District Attorney Said Something Wrong Happened at Chi Phi Before Being Superseded in the Case

Before the special-prosecutor appointment, Van Houten said something untoward happened at the Chi Phi house and condemned the fraternity group-chat language as morally disgusting while saying the renewed investigation would determine whether criminal-law elements were met. Those remarks remain part of the record, but Van Houten no longer controls this investigation; the New York Attorney General's Office now leads it.

Read Prosecutor Remarks

Sep 28
2026

City Response

Ithaca Mayor Seeks Moratorium on Student Event Permits

Ithaca Mayor Robert Cantelmo called for an immediate moratorium on student and special-event permits, including Greek Life events, while Cornell's handling of sexual-violence cases is scrutinized. The proposal requires Common Council approval before it can take effect.

Read City Response

Sep 28
2026

Cornell Rugby Response

Cornell Rugby Addresses Former Players Named in the Case

The Cornell Daily Sun verified former Chi Phi president Orazio Petito and defendants Matthew Ingalls, Winston Lee and Scott Kretzschmar on older Cornell Rugby rosters. The club said players it determined were connected to the alleged events were permanently removed from the team and alumni network, without publicly identifying which individuals it meant.

Read Rugby Response

Sep 28
2026

Cornell Alumna Interview · NPR

Alumna Describes Fear of Drugging as Normalized

Cornell alumna Kat Martin '25 told NPR that students had normalized violence and the fear of being drugged. Her account describes the campus climate she experienced before the 2026 lawsuit and is not presented as evidence about what happened to Jane Doe.

Read Alumna Account

Sep 28
2026

Current Student Interview · NPR

Student Safety Leader Describes Fraternity Power on Campus

Olympia Hall, a current Cornell student and co-president of the Sexual Assault Prevention and Safety Club, told NPR that fraternities hold substantial power over access to social spaces. She described that imbalance as an unhealthy part of the broader campus environment.

Read Student Perspective

Sep 28–Oct 1
2026

Cornell Disciplinary Outcomes · CBS News · Defense Disclosure

Cornell's Seven Outcomes: Two Expelled, Two Suspended, Two Found Not Responsible, One Graduated

CBS News reported that Cornell President Michael Kotlikoff gave student government a more precise breakdown of the seven university outcomes: two expelled, two suspended for at least two semesters, one graduated before Cornell could impose a sanction and two found not responsible for sexual misconduct. Cornell has not publicly matched those outcomes to names. Gillio Lopes's attorney separately said Lopes was suspended and received additional educational sanctions.

Read Cornell Disciplinary Outcomes

Sep 28
2026

Ithaca Police Statement

IPD Says the Incident Was Never Reported to Its Department

The Ithaca Police Department said the alleged October 2024 incident was never reported to IPD and that the department learned about the allegations through recent media coverage. The civil complaint had stated, upon information and belief, that an IPD investigation remained ongoing.

Read Police Update

Sep 27
2026

Public Response

Rep. Ocasio-Cortez Addresses Jane Doe's Case in Ithaca

At an Ithaca town hall, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez discussed Jane Doe's lawsuit and described the case as part of what she characterized as a broader culture enabling sexual violence at elite institutions. Her remarks were public commentary, not a court or investigative finding.

Read Attributed Public Response

Sep 21
2026

Cornell Statement

Cornell Confirms Investigation Has Concluded

Cornell confirmed that its university investigation into the alleged 2024 incident had concluded and said the Xi chapter of Chi Phi remains barred from campus. At that time, Cornell did not publicly disclose individual disciplinary outcomes.

Read Sept. 21 Development

Sep 21
2026

Campus Editorial · Opinion

Cornell Daily Sun Editorial Calls for Accountability

In an editorial titled Cornell Won't, We Will, the Cornell Daily Sun editorial board centered Jane Doe's loss of safety and education and called for greater accountability and transparency surrounding Cornell's response. The editorial is opinion, not an official university or legal finding.

Read Campus Response

Sep 18
2026

Survivor Statement

Jane Doe Speaks Publicly

Jane Doe spoke to The Cornell Daily Sun about the continuing impact of the alleged assault and said the lack of support and ostracism she experienced afterward compounded the harm.

Read Current Development

Sep 14
2026

Court Filing

Civil Lawsuit Filed

Jane Doe filed a 101-page civil complaint in New York Supreme Court naming Cornell University, Chi Phi organizations, Tri Delta organizations, Moonies Bar & Nightclub, the seven students, and additional defendants.

Read in Case File

Mar
2026

Official Cornell Task Force Report

Cornell Task Force Reports Greek-Life Disparity

Cornell's Presidential Task Force on Campus Sexual Assault reported that 52% of Greek-affiliated undergraduate women respondents said they had experienced sexual assault during their time at Cornell, compared with 29% of women respondents who were not affiliated with Greek life. The report also identified fraternity chapter houses as the location for 17% of reported assaults.

Read Institutional Context

Nov 4
2025

Official Cornell Survey

Cornell Releases Sexual Misconduct Survey

Cornell reported that 35% of undergraduate women respondents said they had experienced nonconsensual sexual contact during their Cornell careers, compared with 23% in 2023. Across all respondents, 15% reported nonconsensual sexual contact since coming to Cornell.

Read Institutional Context

May 2–29
2025

Court Filing

Cornell Holds Title IX Hearings

According to the complaint, Cornell's Title IX Office conducted at least twelve hearings concerning Jane Doe's allegations during May 2025.

Read Complaint Summary

2025
Date not public

Cornell Statement · Confirmed Sep. 2026

Cornell Hearing Process Ends With Expulsions and Suspensions

Cornell now says its monthslong Title IX investigation was followed by a multi-day hearing before a trained faculty-and-staff panel and that the final sanctions included expulsions and suspensions. Cornell has not publicly disclosed the date of the final decision or which respondents received which sanctions.

Read Cornell's Later Confirmation

Jan 14
2025

Court Filing

Title IX Investigation Begins

The complaint says Cornell opened a Title IX investigation in response to Jane Doe's formal complaint.

Read in Case File

Nov 26
2024

Cornell Statement

Cornell Issues Public Update

The complaint cites a Cornell statement titled “Update on disturbing allegations of sexual violence,” addressing its investigation into allegations of drug abuse and sexual violence at the Chi Phi house.

View in Case File

Nov 15
2024

IFC · Contemporary Campus Reporting

Fraternity Social Activity Suspended

Cornell's Interfraternity Council unanimously suspended fraternity social activity for the weekend after approximately 100 leaders representing all 29 IFC chapters met to discuss the Chi Phi report. The council also approved mandatory sexual-assault-prevention training for every fraternity beginning the following semester.

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Nov 12
2024

Campus Editorial & Activist Response

Campus Critics Raise Broader Fraternity Concerns

Days after Cornell's Crime Alert, The Cornell Daily Sun editorial board argued that the Chi Phi report reflected a recurring fraternity problem and called for Cornell to ban fraternities. Student activist group Riot Moon also targeted Chi Phi while describing its actions as a response to what it viewed as a broader culture of sexual violence in fraternities.

Read Contemporary Campus Response

Nov 8
2024

Cornell Crime Alert

Original Crime Alert Issued

Cornell issued a Crime Alert after an individual reported being sexually assaulted by several males and coerced into consuming ketamine and other drugs in the 100 block of Edgemoor Lane. Cornell said the fraternity where the reported incident occurred was temporarily suspended effective immediately. The civil complaint later identified Jane Doe's November 8 report and Chi Phi's suspension as part of the case history.

Read Original Public Record

Oct 19–20
2024

Court Filing

The Alleged Assault

The events at the center of the lawsuit allegedly occurred overnight at the Chi Phi fraternity house. The complaint places the beginning of the relevant events on the evening of October 19 and says the final alleged assault concluded at approximately 5:45 a.m. on October 20.

Follow the Timeline in the Case File

Aug 5
2024

Official Cornell Policy Record

Policy 6.4 Procedures Take Effect

Cornell's student procedures under Policy 6.4 became effective before the alleged October 2024 incident. Those procedures provide the university's written framework for handling student sexual- misconduct allegations during the period relevant to Jane Doe's case.

Read Applicable Policy Context

A Survivor at LSU Needs Our Help

The fight for accountability does not end with one campus. JusticeForKendall.com is a separate independent archive documenting the allegations, reporting, university proceedings, public records, and ongoing developments surrounding another college sexual-assault case at Louisiana State University.

If you are here because you believe survivors deserve to be heard and institutions should be held accountable, take a few minutes to learn Kendall's case too.

Visit JusticeForKendall.com