Cornell police got tip that fraternity sought to keep rape allegation quiet
Version 2: New reports add that Cornell police received an anonymous tip that Chi Phi members sought to keep the alleged incident under wraps, and that a Cornell professor alleges efforts to keep the rape allegations as quiet as possible.
In short
Cornell University police received an anonymous tip that members of the Chi Phi fraternity were seeking to keep an alleged rape under wraps, ABC News reported, a day after the school alerted students to the report. Records reviewed by news outlets show the woman known as Jane Doe told school investigators she “felt like bait,” while some fraternity members described efforts at “damage control.” CBS News reported that a Cornell professor alleges efforts to keep the rape allegations “as quiet as possible.”
Read the full story 2 min read
A woman identified in court papers only as Jane Doe says she was given ketamine and repeatedly assaulted at Cornell University’s Chi Phi fraternity house in October 2024, allegations that ABC News said have led to a national outcry and a civil suit against the school and seven former students. She reported the encounter to Cornell police, and the local district attorney decided not to file criminal charges, according to PBS NewsHour and ABC News. [ 1 , 5 , 6 , 7 ]
ABC News reported that text messages, phone calls and other records reviewed by the outlet show some fraternity members tried to contain the allegations in the weeks afterwards, with students describing “damage control” and concern about their reputations and futures on campus. ABC News also reported that a day after Cornell authorities alerted students to a reported rape, campus police received an anonymous tip that Chi Phi was seeking to keep the alleged incident under wraps. [ 5 , 8 ]
Cornell’s Title IX investigation continued, with the aim of deciding discipline for the students involved. PBS NewsHour reported that a lawyer for one of the accused men filed documents from that investigation in a lawsuit seeking to overturn the university’s punishment and remove it from his academic record, including a 99-page report on a campus hearing panel’s disciplinary findings, and records showing 50 interviews with 32 witnesses and 12 days of hearings. Some of the accused disputed the woman’s account and said they were not involved in any assault. [ 1 ]
NBC News aired video of a confrontation with Gillio Lopes, one of the men accused, which it described as the latest fallout as more revelations surfaced about the local district attorney’s actions before he decided not to move ahead with criminal charges. NBC News and the New York Post reported that another Cornell student, who gave police leads after seeing screenshots of group messages, said she feels “betrayed” over Cornell’s handling; she told NBC News she assumed her testimony “wasn’t enough.” [ 2 , 3 , 4 , 7 ]
The Hill reported that New York Gov. Kathy Hochul appointed state Attorney General Letitia James to investigate the alleged assault and Cornell’s response, and that Hochul said Cornell’s president agreed to hire an outside group to review the university’s handling. CBS News reported that a Cornell professor alleges efforts to keep the rape allegations “as quiet as possible.” [ 6 , 9 ]
Why it matters
ABC News reported the case has led to a national outcry and renewed urgency to the American debate over sexual violence and consent. Records now reviewed by several outlets, and a reported tip that fraternity members tried to keep the allegation quiet, put both the university’s Title IX process and the district attorney’s decision not to charge under outside scrutiny.
Key facts
- A woman identified in court papers only as Jane Doe says she was given ketamine and repeatedly assaulted at Cornell University’s Chi Phi fraternity house in October 2024. [ 1 , 5 , 6 , 7 ]
- She reported the encounter to Cornell police, and the local district attorney decided not to file criminal charges, PBS NewsHour, ABC News and The Hill reported. [ 1 , 5 , 6 ]
- ABC News reported that a day after Cornell authorities alerted students to a reported rape, campus police received an anonymous tip that Chi Phi was seeking to keep the alleged incident under wraps. [ 8 ]
- ABC News reported that text messages, phone calls and other records show some fraternity members tried to contain the allegations, with students describing “damage control.” [ 5 ]
- CBS News reported that a Cornell professor alleges efforts to keep the rape allegations “as quiet as possible.” [ 9 ]
- NBC News aired video of a confrontation with Gillio Lopes, one of the men accused. [ 2 , 3 ]
- NBC News and the New York Post reported that a Cornell student who gave police leads about the alleged assault said she feels “betrayed” over the school’s handling of the case. [ 4 , 7 ]
- Records filed in court include a 99-page report on a campus hearing panel’s disciplinary findings and show 50 interviews with 32 witnesses and 12 days of hearings, PBS NewsHour reported. [ 1 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- A woman identified in court papers only as Jane Doe says she was given drugs and sexually assaulted at Cornell University’s Chi Phi fraternity house in October 2024. [ 1 , 5 , 6 , 7 ]
- She reported the incident to Cornell police, and the local district attorney did not bring criminal charges. [ 1 , 5 , 6 ]
- Records from Cornell’s disciplinary investigation have been reviewed by news outlets and filed in litigation. [ 1 , 5 , 6 ]
- Some of the men accused dispute her account and deny wrongdoing. [ 1 , 5 ]
Still unclear
- New York Gov. Kathy Hochul appointed state Attorney General Letitia James to investigate the alleged assault and Cornell’s response. Reported by The Hill alone, with no second outlet or official statement in the documents confirming it.
- The exact date of the alleged assault. ABC News dates it to Oct. 19, 2024, while PBS NewsHour and The Hill say only October 2024.
- Why Jane Doe’s statement to school investigators that she was “100%” certain she was raped did not reach the district attorney’s office. Reported by The Hill citing documents reviewed by CBS News; the documents do not explain how or why it was not passed on.
- The status of the lawsuit by a lawyer for one of the accused men seeking to overturn Cornell’s punishment and remove it from his academic record. The documents say records were filed but give no ruling or next step.
- What the local district attorney is doing now, after criticism of his decision not to prosecute. NBC News refers to questions over his actions before he decided not to move ahead, but no document says a review or reopening is under way.
- The circumstances of the video confrontation with Gillio Lopes. NBC News describes it as dramatic and as recent fallout but gives no location, timing or who filmed it.
- A Cornell professor’s allegation that there were efforts to keep the rape allegations “as quiet as possible.” Carried only in a CBS News summary with no named professor or further detail.
- Records indicate some Chi Phi members sought to contain the allegations after the incident. Reported by a single source so far
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- The alleged assault is said to have taken place at the Chi Phi fraternity house, where the woman says she was given ketamine and strong alcohol. [ 5 , 7 ]
- Jane Doe goes to the Cornell University Police Department, a day after a phone call with Matthew Ingalls in which she said, “The only way for me to heal is to know what happened.” [ 5 ]
- At a Cornell hearing, Jane Doe describes being in a state of “vague consciousness” after taking ketamine for the first time. [ 6 ]
- PBS NewsHour reports on excerpts of Cornell’s disciplinary investigation, including the woman’s statement that she “felt like bait.” [ 1 ]
- NBC News airs video of a confrontation with one of the accused men. [ 2 ]
- NBC News reports the confrontation involves Gillio Lopes, one of the men accused. [ 3 ]
- NBC News reports a student who gave police leads says she feels “betrayed” over Cornell’s handling. [ 4 ]
- ABC News reports that records suggest some fraternity members tried to contain the allegations. [ 5 ]
- The Hill reports that Gov. Kathy Hochul appointed Attorney General Letitia James to investigate the alleged assault and Cornell’s response. [ 6 ]
- The New York Post reports the student who tipped off police says, “We all feel betrayed.” [ 7 ]
- ABC News reports campus police received an anonymous tip about Chi Phi seeking to keep the alleged incident under wraps. [ 8 ]
- CBS News reports a Cornell professor alleges efforts to keep the rape allegations “as quiet as possible.” [ 9 ]