With the victim filing a civil suit, the criminal case has been reopened. Catch
- The Allegations: A former Cornell student (identified as Jane Doe) filed a civil lawsuit alleging she was drugged with ketamine, incapacitated, and gang-raped for multiple hours by the seven fraternity members at the Chi Phi house on October 19, 2024.
- Group Chat Evidence: The lawsuit and subsequent media reports highlighted graphic Snapchat group messages from fraternity members sent during the night of the alleged assault, which sparked national outrage and intense public scrutiny.
- University and Police Response: Following an internal university investigation in 2024, the Chi Phi chapter was barred from campus, and the lawsuit claims only two of the accused men were expelled while others faced lesser penalties like writing essays. No criminal charges were initially filed at the time.
Recent Developments
- Criminal Case Reopened: Following widespread public backlash and community pressure after the civil filing, Tompkins County District Attorney Matthew Van Houten announced that the criminal investigation has been reopened to present evidence to a grand jury.
- State Inquiry: The office of New York Attorney General Letitia James opened a review into how Cornell University handled the campus rape allegations
