Cornell Police Drafted Records Requests in Alleged Gang Rape Case, Report Claims

Cornell University Police drafted requests for phone records related to an alleged gang rape case approximately one week after a female student reported the incident, according to a new report. It remains unclear if these drafted requests were ever sent to telecommunications companies or if campus police shared them with prosecutors.

The incident involves a female student, identified as Jane Doe, who reported being sexually assaulted at the Chi Phi fraternity house in 2024. Documents obtained by CNN indicate that Cornell University Police addressed letters to Verizon and T-Mobile on November 15, 2024. These letters stated the agency was investigating a sexual assault and believed the listed phone number might contain evidence pertinent to the investigation. The police also indicated they would send a signed warrant within 30 days and requested the companies preserve all available data, including texts, emails, calls, and messages.

Tompkins County District Attorney Matthew Van Houten initially investigated the sexual assault allegation and declined to file charges. His office has since reopened the case. It is currently unknown if Van Houten was aware of the campus police's records requests.

Jane Doe's attorney stated that his client recorded several calls with the accused men. These recordings have gained national attention since Doe filed a lawsuit last month against the accused individuals, Cornell University, and other parties. One such call was with Matthew Ingalls, who allegedly invited Doe to the frat house on October 19, 2024, before she reported being drugged and raped. Ingalls was later expelled from the university.

In a call obtained by Cornell University Police, Ingalls is heard telling Doe, "You did tell me you were sober, by the way." Doe countered, stating that he and six others allegedly sexually assaulted her, and that she had "already" told him she was "10 shots deep." She also told Ingalls that if she wanted to pursue legal action, "what y'all did would be classified as gang rape." Doe also recounted spending time in the emergency room and therapy due to the alleged assault, stating there was "so much damage on my body and my brain."

Ingalls, in the call, maintained his innocence, claiming Doe convinced him she was not intoxicated and "hadn't been anywhere" that night, which Doe disputed. Doe questioned Ingalls about the events of the night, including how they ended up in a threesome in his fraternity house. Ingalls described inviting another man from the dance floor, Jonathan Newell, to join them before they went upstairs.

Newell is accused in the lawsuit of sending a Snapchat message to a group chat of over 50 fraternity members that read "Free p****," referring to Jane Doe. Newell was also expelled from the university. According to the lawsuit, five other individuals allegedly engaged in sexual acts with Doe while she was incapacitated and without her consent.

Other fraternity members named in the lawsuit faced disciplinary actions from the university. Winston Lee was suspended for two years and placed on disciplinary probation. Gillio Lopes received a three-semester suspension followed by two years of probation. Both were also assigned essays and studies on sexual harassment. Diego Sarabia was accused of forcibly kissing Doe and was banned from campus for three years, with a persona non grata order issued against him after graduation. Scott Noris and Scott Kretzschmar were instructed not to contact Doe and were required to complete essays and studies on sexual harassment and bystander intervention.

The Chi Phi fraternity chapter has since been banned from campus following the university's investigation. Protests have occurred across the campus since the allegations surfaced in September. Activists have vandalized buildings with messages condemning the university's handling of sexual assault cases.

A Cornell University spokesperson stated that the university had no further comment due to the active investigation.