Cornell Student Accuses Fraternity Members of Gang Rape in 2024 Incident

POLICY WIRE — Ithaca, United States — New information has come to light in the case of a former Cornell University student who claims she was drugged and sexually assaulted by multiple individuals at a fraternity house in October 2024.

The woman, identified as Jane Doe at the time of the alleged incident, filed a civil lawsuit against seven former Chi Phi fraternity members and the university, alleging negligence and failure to protect her. Although an internal university investigation was conducted, no criminal charges were initially filed against the accused.

The Tompkins County District Attorney’s Office announced plans to reopen the criminal investigation following community pressure, with the case now being referred to a grand jury. The DA noted that the woman’s sworn statement from November 2024 differs from the claims made in the civil lawsuit, while her attorney disputes whether investigators properly followed up on her allegations.

The lawsuit details that Jane Doe visited a friend at the Chi Phi house while already intoxicated, and claims two fraternity members encouraged her to take what they described as ketamine before sexually assaulting her. According to court documents, a message suggesting a woman was available for sex was sent via Snapchat during the incident, which allegedly led to more men entering the room and continuing the assault until early morning.

Jane Doe reported the incident to Cornell Police three weeks after the alleged assault, but the DA said she was not contacted by investigators afterward. The university denied claims that those accused only faced minor consequences, stating that sanctions such as expulsions and suspensions were imposed.

Cornell emphasized that it conducted a comprehensive Title IX investigation, leading to a panel of faculty and staff reviewing the case over multiple days. The university also stated that the fraternity chapter was closed in 2024 and remains banned from campus.

The Ithaca Police Department confirmed that the alleged incident was never reported to them. The DA, Matthew Van Houten, said the original statement from Jane Doe did not include claims of being drugged or gang-raped, contradicting the civil lawsuit. He added that his office could not have based its decision on allegations that were later filed in the lawsuit.

Jane Doe’s attorney, Giuffra, disputed the claim that investigators spoke with her after she reported the incident to Cornell Police, arguing that a thorough criminal investigation would require more extensive engagement with survivors. Van Houten said he reached out to Jane Doe’s attorneys after the lawsuit was filed to understand the discrepancies and determine the next steps.

The DA confirmed that the investigation is now underway, including interviews with Jane Doe and her legal team. If the grand jury decides to bring charges, the case will be prosecuted vigorously, according to the DA’s statement.

Cornell expressed support for the DA’s decision to re-open the case. One of the accused, Scott Kretzchmar, is named in the lawsuit for sending messages in a group chat. His attorney, Saland, claimed that Kretzchmar had no physical contact with Jane Doe and denied any wrongdoing, citing a hair follicle test that showed no signs of ketamine use.

Saland said the university found Kretzchmar not responsible for the allegations and welcomed the opportunity to present evidence in the renewed investigation. He called the accusations selfish, repugnant, and vile, expressing hope that the case would be resolved fairly.

Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)