Prosecutors in Tompkins County reopened their review of a 2024 case involving allegations against members of Cornell University’s Chi Phi fraternity after a former student filed a civil lawsuit earlier this month.
District Attorney Matthew Van Houten said his office planned to examine whether investigators had missed evidence that could affect its earlier assessment. The former student, identified as Jane Doe, alleged in the lawsuit that seven current and former fraternity members drugged, assaulted and raped her.
Prosecutors are investigating whether additional evidence could change their assessment of the alleged Cornell fraternity assault
Van Houten said his office intended to present the case to a grand jury with Jane Doe’s cooperation.
“We want to reexamine whether there’s additional evidence that we were not aware of in November of 2024, that exists now that would change our assessment of the case,” he said.
The DA also said the allegations in the civil complaint differed substantially from the statement Jane Doe gave police in 2024. According to Van Houten, that earlier statement did not allege that someone drugged her without her knowledge.
Jane Doe’s attorney, Thomas P. Giuffra, disputed the DA’s characterization. He argued that authorities failed to conduct proper follow-up after his client initially reported the incident.
Van Houten acknowledged that his office relied on the Cornell fraternity investigation conducted by Cornell University Police. They did not independently investigate the allegations at the time.
The dispute also centered on a screenshot from a Snapchat group chat that appeared in the civil complaint. Van Houten said his office never received that material. Giuffra maintained that authorities received the messages in 2024 and called them a “critical piece of evidence.”
Cornell said its Office of Civil Rights and Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards investigated the allegations. The school said a hearing panel later imposed sanctions that included expulsions and suspensions.
As per ABC News the university also rejected claims that students received only minimal consequences. It said the Xi chapter of the Chi Phi fraternity remained barred from campus.
Cornell later said it supported the DA’s decision to allow the complainant to present her account to a criminal grand jury.
Two defendants also issued denials. Attorney Jeremy Saland said Scott Kretzschmar never sexually assaulted or touched Jane Doe. Scott Norris separately denied participating in sexual activity or drug use. He acknowledged sending a Snapchat message included in the complaint.
The renewed Cornell fraternity investigation now centered on whether new evidence could lead prosecutors and a grand jury to reach a different conclusion.
If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673).
