A Cornell University student’s 2024 account to police, obtained by NBC News, reveals she described being the most intoxicated I’ve ever been
during an alleged assault involving a fraternity, while the district attorney initially declined to file charges due to insufficient evidence.
Jane Doe, the student at the center of a 2024 sexual assault case at Cornell University, described to police that she was the most intoxicated I’ve ever been
during an alleged incident at the Chi Phi fraternity house, according to a sworn statement obtained by NBC News. The 2024 allegations, which resurfaced amid public outcry, involved claims of drugging, incapacitation, and sexual assault by multiple fraternity members, with Doe alleging she was completely and totally incapacitated
before some of the abuse, as reported by CBS News.
Victim’s Account: Intoxication, Isolation, and Coercion
Doe’s sworn statement to Cornell University police on November 14, 2024, detailed a night of heavy drinking and drug use, including ketamine, that left her extremely uncomfortable
and unable to make any decisions.
She described being physically hit and forced into a sexual encounter with multiple men, stating, I can say with 100% confidence I was raped,
according to a transcript obtained by CBS News. The statement also highlighted her inability to leave the room, as her phone was across the room and she lacked payment for an Uber, as reported by NBC News.
The incident, which occurred over the night of October 19–20, 2024, involved a threesome with two men, after which additional fraternity members entered the room, according to Doe’s account. She later recalled hearing men say something about ‘having a turn’
and feeling instantly horrified
as multiple men walked into the room.
The lawsuit filed in September names seven Chi Phi fraternity members, alleging they sexually assaulted, raped and pressured her to snort ketamine, with one defendant, Scott Norris of Canandaigua, among those named in the suit, per 13Wham.
DA’s Initial Decision and Reopened Investigation
Tompkins County District Attorney Matthew Van Houten initially declined to prosecute in 2024, citing insufficient evidence to support criminal charges. However, the DA’s office reopened the investigation after the lawsuit was filed, with Van Houten acknowledging new information in Doe’s complaint. The DA defended his 2024 decision, stating that Doe’s initial account to police did not include allegations that she was drugged, incapacitated beyond the ability to consent, or forced into sex, though he later acknowledged reviewing a transcript of her interview where she explicitly stated she was raped.
Van Houten’s office relied on a summary of Doe’s statement, which omitted details about her extreme intoxication and inability to consent, as reported by 13Wham. The DA’s decision to reopen the case followed pressure from New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, who called for an independent investigation into Cornell’s handling offnamefont the allegations, citing concerns about campus culture and reporting systems.
University Response: Title IX Investigation and Fraternity Closure
Cornell University conducted a Title IX investigation, resulting in temporary suspensions and sanctions against the involved fraternity members. The Chi Phi chapter was closed in 2024 and remains barred from campus, according to Cornell’s statements. The university also denied claims that it offered essays as a sole consequence for misconduct, stating that none of the individuals charged were offered the opportunity to write essays as a sole consequence of their involvement,
as per the Cornell University statements.
Cornell has since supported the DA’s renewed investigation, stating it supports the decision to reopen the criminal investigation
and that its own probe led to some students being disciplined or expelled,
according to the university’s statement.
Unresolved Questions and Ongoing Implications
The case remains unresolved, with the DA’s office now investigating the reported allegations fully. Key questions linger: Did the initial investigation overlook critical details in Doe’s statement? How will the university’s independent review affect its campus culture? And what role did the fraternity’s closure and disciplinary actions play in the delayed public response? The case has reignited debates over how institutions handle sexual assault.
As the DA’s investigation continues, the case underscores the challenges of proving sexual assault in situations involving intoxication and the complex interplay between university disciplinary processes and criminal proceedings. The victim’s account, now more widely known, has become a focal point in the broader conversation about accountability and support for survivors.