Independent Case Archive
Documenting the allegations, university proceedings, public records, reporting, and civil litigation surrounding an alleged October 2024 sexual assault at Cornell University.
The Sexual Assault
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 September 2026, Tompkins County District Attorney Matthew Van Houten reopened the criminal investigation, assigned a senior prosecutor with sex-crimes experience to begin preparing the case and said the evidence would be presented to a grand jury after prosecutors determine what charges, if any, are appropriate. Jane Doe's civil lawsuit, filed September 14, 2026, remains pending.
These are the seven men named in that lawsuit.
Read the Full Case FileThe Seven Alleged
01
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
02
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.
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03
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.
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04
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
05
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.
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06
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
07
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 MoreLatest Developments
Current Status
Criminal investigation reopened; senior sex-crimes prosecutor assigned; grand-jury preparation underway.
Latest documented development
Sep 28
2026
Tompkins County District Attorney Matthew Van Houten assigned a senior prosecutor with sex-crimes experience to begin preparing the reopened case. Van Houten said the evidence will be presented to a grand jury after his office determines what charges, if any, are appropriate.
Read Current Development
Sep 28
2026
Cornell said its completed Title IX process resulted in a range of sanctions that included expulsions and suspensions. The university did not disclose which respondents received which sanctions. Cornell also said it supports the district attorney's decision to give Jane Doe's account an opportunity to be heard by a criminal grand jury.
Read Cornell Update
Sep 28
2026
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
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 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
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
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
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
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
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
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 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
The complaint says Cornell opened a Title IX investigation in response to Jane Doe's formal complaint.
Read in Case File
Nov 26
2024
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
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.
Read Institutional Context
Nov 8
2024
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
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
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