Cornell University fraternity brothers accused of gang rape allegedly attempted to silence a witness and protect their reputation, according to police records. The incident involves a lawsuit filed by a victim identified only as Jane Doe, who claims she was coerced into taking drugs and sexually assaulted by seven members of the Chi Phi fraternity at an off-campus house in 2024. Prosecutors previously determined there was 'insufficient evidence' to bring criminal sexual assault charges. In response, Cornell initiated a Title IX investigation in 2025 and subsequently shut down the fraternity.
Of the seven men accused, Matthew Ingalls and Jonathan Newell were expelled from campus, while Winston Lee and Gillio Lopes were suspended but have since re-enrolled. Diego Sarabia, who had already graduated, was banned from campus, and Scott Norris and Scott Kretzschmar were found not responsible for sexual activity, receiving no expulsion or suspensions.
Jane Doe's lawsuit has drawn national attention regarding the handling of the case by authorities, prompting students to organize a seven-hour sit-in, one hour for each accused man, on Wednesday. The protest began at 1:30 PM ET at the Toni Morrison Dining Hall and is scheduled to continue until 8:30 PM.
Records indicate that Cornell police received a tip suggesting that the fraternity members attempted to silence a potential witness to protect their fraternity's reputation after Jane Doe filed her police report. A witness reported that Chi Phi held a meeting to align their accounts of the incident, which they described as a 'consensual orgy,' while expressing concern about the impact on their image.
During a police interview, one fraternity brother stated that the alleged gang rape was mentioned during a regular chapter meeting, but he denied that it was the focus of the meeting. Text messages revealed that fraternity leadership contacted Ingalls after a campus-wide alert regarding the reported rape, asking about his communication with Jane Doe.
Jane Doe recounted that the night of October 19, 2024, began with underage drinking at bars with sorority sisters before she was invited to an afterparty at the Chi Phi house. She alleged that after agreeing to have sex with Ingalls and another man, she was pressured to consume drugs and became heavily intoxicated. She claimed that the situation escalated as more men joined, and messages were sent to the fraternity's Snapchat group inviting others to enter the room.
The incident reportedly concluded around 5:45 AM on October 20, 2024, when Jane Doe lost consciousness and later returned to her sorority house. Three weeks later, she reported the incident to the police, but prosecutors declined to file charges due to 'insufficient evidence.' During Cornell's Title IX investigation, Ingalls claimed he was assaulted by Jane Doe, expressing concerns about gender discrimination in the process.