Cornell Fraternity Brothers Accused of 'Damage Control' Amid 'Gang Rape' Allegations

Some members of the Cornell University chapter of Chi Phi fraternity allegedly attempted to manage the fallout from a sexual assault incident in October 2024, according to text messages, phone calls, and records reviewed by ABC News. These efforts, described by some as "damage control," occurred in the weeks following the alleged assault, as the accuser's perception of the events evolved and she began to describe them as a "gang rape."

Records from Cornell's internal investigation, which ran from November 2024 to May 2025, along with student communications, shed light on the alleged attempts to downplay the incident. The woman, referred to as Jane Doe, reported the incident to Cornell University Police on November 8, 2024, describing it as a rape involving 8 to 10 men at the Chi Phi fraternity house. The allegations led to the fraternity's suspension and a months-long university investigation, resulting in two students being expelled and others suspended.

In the days immediately following the incident, Doe reportedly stayed in contact with some of the men later accused of assault. Initially, she expressed concerns about her reputation and physical health, writing to Matthew Ingalls, who had invited her to the fraternity house that night, "I will also say this is f—--g RUINING my life temporarily. My reputation is destroyed and I’m utterly ashamed."

Within two days of reporting the incident to police, Doe contacted Ingalls and two other accused men to seek their accounts. She told Ingalls, according to a recording of the call obtained by ABC News, "The only way for me to heal is to know what happened. That's why I'm trying to just piece it together, you know, like I'm just like confused." Doe also mentioned seeking medical attention and therapy due to the physical and psychological impact of the events. She questioned how so many people ended up in the room where the encounters took place over several hours.

During the recorded call, Ingalls reportedly insisted Doe had been sober and stated she had not been anywhere, a claim Doe denied. Ingalls' account of the evening differed from messages he sent to his fraternity's Snapchat group, which had nearly 60 members. In those messages, he appeared to invite others to the room, with one message stating, "Like you can walk in and whip it out. Boys come whip it out." These messages were provided to university investigators and obtained by ABC News.

At one point during the phone call with Ingalls, Doe described the incident as "gang rape." Ingalls responded, "It's possible that both of us like remember this and it's not true." Doe countered, "I don't think that that's true. No, no, because I remember looking up and being like that is too many people."

When the Chi Phi fraternity was notified of its temporary suspension on November 8, 2024, some members discussed the situation via text. Ingalls reportedly asked in a group chat, "What’s the plan of action? Should I call [Jane Doe]? I don’t think she would have reported this." The fraternity's president advised waiting, noting discrepancies in the university's initial information regarding the date of the alleged incident.

Fraternity brothers attempted to reconcile the date of the incident by referencing themed parties held that month. Records indicate the incident occurred during a Hawaii-themed party the week before a "risky business" party on November 25, 2024.

During a fraternity meeting, one brother reportedly described the incident casually rather than as a coordinated response. "These guys were just being idiots and like we're very open about doing this kind of gross thing to most people and so that was it," the brother stated to police. "We didn't like have it aside – like this happened once. No it was like just a quick thing."

In a statement to one of Cornell's internal investigative hearings months later, Doe explicitly called out "the coverups these boys attempted." Investigators examined an instance where Ingalls allegedly asked a witness to "submit new evidence" that could exonerate him and others, suggesting that even if Doe found out, convincing evidence would prove she lied. The witness, a friend of Doe's, shared Ingalls' messages with Doe and later told campus investigators that Ingalls repeatedly tried to convince her Doe was lying.

Tompkins County District Attorney Matthew Van Houten previously stated that Doe's initial police statement suggested consensual sex and drug use. Last week, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul removed the local DA from the case and appointed State Attorney General Letitia James to take over the criminal investigation. Cornell has also announced that an outside law firm will review the university's handling of the allegations and subsequent investigation.