New York Man Mistakenly Named in Cornell Rape Lawsuit Faces Online Harassment

A New York man was wrongly named in a Cornell lawsuit. His family faces online abuse after court documents were served to the wrong person.

Editorial Desk

October 2, 2026 One Min Read

POLICY WIRE — Ithaca, New York — A 23-year-old Marine Corps sergeant from upstate New York was mistakenly identified as one of seven students accused in a civil lawsuit against Cornell University, according to a recent report.

The lawsuit, filed by a plaintiff known as Jane Doe, alleged that she was drugged and sexually assaulted by multiple men at a fraternity house in October 2024. However, the legal documents were erroneously served to the wrong Matthew Ingalls, who has no connection to the university.

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Victoria Ingalls, the mother of the Marine Corps sergeant, said her family has been subjected to severe online harassment, including threats and the exposure of personal information. The law firm representing Jane Doe confirmed it is working with the court to correct the error, but the actual individuals accused in the case have not publicly responded.

Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)

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