Cornell Fraternity Brothers Accused of Gang Rape Allegedly Tried to Silence Witness, Records Show

Seven Cornell University fraternity brothers accused of gang rape allegedly attempted to silence a witness in an effort to protect their reputation, according to police records. The Ivy League school has faced scrutiny since the victim, identified as Jane Doe, filed a lawsuit last month alleging she was coerced into taking drugs and sexually assaulted by members of the Chi Phi fraternity at an off-campus house in 2024.

Prosecutors initially determined there was insufficient evidence to pursue criminal sexual assault charges. However, Cornell initiated a Title IX investigation into the students in 2025 and subsequently shut down the fraternity. Of the seven men accused, Matthew Ingalls and Jonathan Newell were expelled, Winston Lee and Gillio Lopes were suspended and have since returned, Diego Sarabia graduated but was banned from campus, and Scott Norris and Scott Kretzschmar were found not responsible for sexual activity, with their disciplinary actions not including expulsion or suspension. All have denied wrongdoing.

The lawsuit has ignited national outrage regarding the handling of the case, prompting a seven-hour student sit-in on Wednesday, with each hour dedicated to one of the accused men. The protest, organized by a student coalition, began at the Toni Morrison Dining Hall on campus at 1:30 p.m. ET and was scheduled to conclude at 8:30 p.m.

Witness Report and Fraternal Communication

Cornell police reportedly received a tip that the fraternity members sought to suppress a witness's account to safeguard the fraternity's reputation after Jane Doe filed her police report. Following a campus-wide alert about a reported rape on November 8, 2024, Chi Phi allegedly approached a potential witness, urging them to remain silent to prevent damage to the reputation of those involved and the fraternity itself, according to school records reviewed by ABC News. The witness subsequently reported this interaction to the police.

The witness claimed that the fraternity brothers discussed the incident, reportedly framing it as a "consensual orgy" while expressing concern about its impact on their public image. During police interviews, some fraternity brothers stated that the alleged gang rape was not the specific focus of their weekly chapter meeting, though the situation was acknowledged.

Text messages revealed that fraternity leadership contacted Ingalls after the alert was issued, inquiring about his last contact with Jane Doe. Ingalls responded, asking about the plan of action and expressing doubt that she would have reported the incident.

Allegations in the Lawsuit

According to Jane Doe's lawsuit, the events of October 19, 2024, began with underage drinking at several bars. She was then invited to an afterparty at the Chi Phi fraternity house, where she met with a friend, Ingalls. Doe alleges that she agreed to engage in sexual activity with Ingalls and another man, but was subsequently pressured to consume ketamine and marijuana, leading to disorientation.

Doe claims that as other men entered the room, the men allegedly posted to the fraternity's active-members Snapchat group, indicating "free pussy upstairs" and inviting others to join. The lawsuit includes claims that messages invited others to "walk in and whip it out." The night concluded around 5:45 a.m. on October 20, 2024, when she lost consciousness and later returned to her sorority house. She reported the incident to the police three weeks later, but charges were ultimately declined due to insufficient evidence. During Cornell's Title IX investigation, Ingalls asserted that he was assaulted by Jane Doe, questioning the process and alleging gender discrimination in his correspondence.