A Cornell University student died by suicide after an alleged campaign of harassment and misinformation by an ex-lover and another friend, according to a lawsuit filed by the student's mother.
Winter Knutson, 19, who used they/them pronouns and identified as non-binary, was found deceased in Fall Creek Gorge on November 10, 2024. The lawsuit, filed on October 26, claims that administrators failed to oversee an escalating conflict between Knutson and two other students from September 14 to November 10, 2024.
Knutson resided in Cornell's Loving House, a dorm described as an environment that supports LGBTQIA+ students. According to the lawsuit, Knutson developed a romantic relationship with a friend and her roommate, who are named as defendants. The complaint alleges that the friend, intending to manipulate Knutson, falsely accused them of sexual assault. The roommate, described as a "de facto enforcer," allegedly participated in harassment, including spreading rumors that Knutson was "drugging people" within the Loving House.
The lawsuit states that these alleged incidents, described as "six escalating episodes," were visible to Cornell University. The filing claims that the harassment culminated in Knutson confessing to sexual assault, an accusation the lawsuit asserts was false and contradicted by contemporaneous evidence.
Following these alleged events, Knutson penned a suicide note that focused on the "destruction of their reputation, life, and future" before taking their own life on the same day, the complaint states. The lawsuit accuses Cornell University of failing to uphold its promises of safety and support within the Loving House program.
The mother's lawsuit also asserts that Cornell should have been aware of the heightened risk of self-harm among LGBTQ+ students, citing university research on the topic. The complaint further alleges that school officials were aware of the situation, as the friend repeatedly sought help from counselors, advisors, and law enforcement during an alleged mental health crisis.
The lawsuit is filed under Title IX, the federal law prohibiting sex discrimination in education, and seeks unspecified compensatory damages for negligence, violations of state Human Rights Law, and wrongful death.
A spokesperson for Cornell University stated, "The loss of Winter Knutson was a tragedy. We will not comment on the pending litigation." The Daily Mail is not naming the defendants as they have not yet filed a response.