A New York prosecutor has officially reopened a criminal investigation into allegations that a former Cornell University student was gang-raped at the Chi Phi fraternity house in October 2024. Tompkins County District Attorney Matthew Van Houten announced the reversal following new evidence and a high-profile civil lawsuit filed by the survivor on September 14, 2026.
The survivor, filing court documents under the pseudonym Jane Doe, named seven current and former members of the Chi Phi fraternity in her civil complaint. She accused them of drugging, sexual assault, and gang rape. According to the lawsuit, one of the defendants allegedly used a Snapchat group chat titled “Chi Phi Actives” to alert fraternity brothers that an incapacitated woman was available upstairs. This action prompted multiple men to enter the room.
District Attorney Cites Discrepancies and New Evidence
District Attorney Matthew Van Houten stated that his office is actively evaluating whether to bring criminal charges. He noted that the allegations presented in the civil complaint differ significantly from the initial statement the woman provided to law enforcement nearly two years ago. In November 2024, local authorities declined to press criminal charges.
According to Van Houten, the initial six-page sworn statement given to the Cornell University Police Department did not allege that the woman was drugged against her will or forced into non-consensual acts. Instead, that initial document described voluntary alcohol and drug consumption alongside voluntary participation in sexual activity. However, Van Houten stated his intention to present the case to a Tompkins County grand jury with the cooperation of Jane Doe to evaluate whether new evidence changes the legal assessment.
“We want to reexamine whether there’s additional evidence that was not aware of in November of 2024, that exists now that would change our assessment of the case and would result in the grand jury finding that there was criminal conduct,” Van Houten said.
Legal Representation Disputes Initial Police Investigation
Thomas P. Giuffra, the attorney representing Jane Doe, strongly faulted the initial handling of the case by campus and local authorities. He argued that police failed to conduct a proper and thorough investigation following the October 2024 incident.
“In my experience, speaking with an abuse survivor requires delicacy, understanding and specialized training,” Giuffra said. He emphasized that critical pieces of evidence, including the Snapchat group chat messages inviting fraternity members to the room, were provided to authorities in 2024 but were never properly acted upon or followed up with his client.
Addressing the differences between the initial police report and the civil complaint, Giuffra explained that his client was deeply traumatized, numb, and in self-preservation mode during the days immediately following the assault.
Cornell University and National Responses
Following the alleged October 19, 2024 incident, Cornell University barred the Xi chapter of the Chi Phi fraternity from campus and initiated internal disciplinary proceedings. University officials defended their disciplinary response against criticisms that the perpetrators faced minimal consequences.
In an official statement, Cornell confirmed that its Title IX office conducted a multi-month investigation leading to hearings before a panel of trained faculty and staff. The panel issued severe sanctions, including expulsions and suspensions. The university explicitly refuted claims that accused students were merely permitted to write essays as a sole consequence, stating that such narratives undermine survivor support and discourage reporting.
The case has sparked widespread national outrage and public discussion regarding sexual assault handling at elite educational institutions. During a downtown Ithaca town hall meeting, U.S. Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez sharply denounced what she termed a protected “culture of rape” at universities, drawing further attention to the legal battle.
Legal defense teams for the named fraternity members have contested the allegations. Representatives for defendants such as Scott Kretzschmar and Scott Norris have denied any involvement in sexual assault or drug administration, with attorneys stating they look forward to addressing the claims in a court of law.
