The investigation into serious allegations of gang rape involving seven Cornell University students has been reopened following a civil lawsuit filed by the accuser, known only as Jane Doe. Tompkins County District Attorney Matthew Van Houten announced on Monday that he intends to present the case to a grand jury, aiming to gather further testimony and evidence.
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Jane Doe’s lawsuit, which was lodged on September 16, recounts an incident at the Chi Phi fraternity house in October 2024. In her allegations, she asserts that she was subjected to physical and sexual assault after being coerced into consuming drugs and alcohol, specifically ketamine and marijuana, which rendered her incapacitated. The alleged assault happened when she was 20 years old and a student at Cornell University. Since the incident, it has been reported that she has withdrawn from her studies.
According to legal representatives, the lawsuit includes a screenshot from a Snapchat conversation featuring fraternity members that suggests an invitation to others to partake in the alleged misconduct. Following the event, Doe disclosed the incident to Cornell’s police department, prompted by friends who encouraged her to come forward. However, no criminal charges were initially filed, and the fraternity chapter was subsequently banned from campus.
In his statement, DA Van Houten addressed the criticisms aimed at his office regarding the previous decision not to pursue criminal charges. He noted that when Doe provided a sworn statement to police in November 2024, it did not explicitly allege that she had been drugged or gang-raped. “While the behaviour of certain Chi Phi fraternity members was without question disgusting and morally reprehensible, criminal prosecutions must be based on evidence and not emotion,” he stated.
Although he defended his office’s earlier stance, he affirmed that the reopening of the investigation aims to provide a path for healing and accountability. “Recognising that the process of healing from trauma is personal and different for every human, my office has reopened this investigation,” he said.
In a subsequent interview, Van Houten expressed hope that he could connect with Jane Doe soon to discuss her potential cooperation with the grand jury process. His office is currently in email communication with her attorney, who has publicly criticised the handling of the case and expressed concerns over apparent failures by law enforcement.
Thomas Giuffra, representing Doe, stated that he finds a defensive posture in the DA’s comments troubling. He expressed a desire to support efforts to prosecute those responsible for the alleged assaults, while also condemning any attempt to shift blame onto Doe. “We appreciate and support any efforts to prosecute the parties responsible for the assaults and will fully cooperate with the District Attorney’s Office,” he remarked.
In response to Giuffra’s statements, Van Houten refuted the characterisation of his office’s approach, claiming it misrepresents their intentions and takes advantage of the case’s notoriety. Meanwhile, Cornell University has publicly endorsed the decision to reopen the inquiry, highlighting that its Title IX proceedings resulted in various sanctions, including expulsions and suspensions.
Attorneys for two defendants in the lawsuit, Scott Kretzschmar and Gillio Lopes, have also issued statements denying the allegations against their clients. Kretzschmar’s attorney described the lawsuit as “intentionally dishonest,” insisting that his client merely made a careless comment via Snapchat. Lopes’s attorney noted that a comprehensive investigation had previously been conducted by Cornell, claiming that the current public narrative fails to capture the full context of the situation.
The reopening of the investigation and the ongoing legal proceedings are likely to draw considerable public attention as the case unfolds. Legal experts have noted that navigating sexual assault cases within university settings often presents complex challenges, particularly in balancing the rights of the accuser and the accused.
As the legal landscape develops, both the university and the local law enforcement agencies may face continued scrutiny regarding their response to the original allegations and the measures taken to ensure justice for all parties involved.
For anyone affected by sexual assault, support is available through resources such as the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) or online at rainn.org.