Tompkins County District Attorney Matthew Van Houten announced Monday that his office will reopen a criminal investigation into an alleged gang rape at Cornell University in October 2024, following the filing of a civil lawsuit this month. The decision comes after a former Cornell student, identified as Jane Doe, accused seven members of the Chi Phi fraternity of drugging and assaulting her during a visit to the fraternity house. The case will now be presented to a grand jury, which will determine whether to bring criminal charges.
The civil lawsuit, filed September 14 in New York County Supreme Court, alleges that Jane Doe was coerced into consuming a substance she believed was ketamine before being subjected to multiple assaults over several hours. The lawsuit also names Cornell University as a defendant, claiming the institution failed to adequately investigate or punish the accused students. The university previously suspended the Chi Phi chapter following the incident, though no criminal charges were filed at the time.
In a written statement, Van Houten said his office was revisiting the case after reviewing the new allegations in the civil complaint. He noted that the lawsuit’s claims differ from the woman’s initial statement to police in November 2024, which did not allege she was drugged or incapacitated. The district attorney emphasized that the grand jury would consider both Jane Doe’s testimony and any new evidence from the civil lawsuit before deciding on potential charges.
Cornell University has not publicly commented on the reopened investigation but previously stated that temporary suspensions were issued to the seven students involved. The university has denied claims that it allowed the accused to mitigate their conduct through essay submissions, calling such assertions incorrect.
The civil lawsuit seeks unspecified damages and alleges that Cornell’s handling of the incident violated Title IX, the federal law prohibiting sex discrimination in education. The case is ongoing, with no criminal charges yet filed against the accused fraternity members. The grand jury’s decision is pending, and further updates are expected in the coming weeks.