New developments have emerged in the case of a former Cornell University student alleging she was drugged and gang-raped inside a fraternity house in October 2024. The student, referred to as Jane Doe, has filed a civil lawsuit against seven then-members of the Chi Phi fraternity and the university, claiming negligence in protecting her. Despite an internal inquiry by Cornell, no criminal charges were initially made.
Claims Against Cornell
In her lawsuit, Jane Doe asserts she was intoxicated when she visited a friend at the fraternity house. She claims two fraternity members pressured her into taking what they claimed was ketamine before sexually assaulting her. Around 1:42 a.m. on the night in question, one fraternity member allegedly sent a crude Snapchat message suggesting that a woman upstairs was available for sex, leading to further assaults by other men until 5:45 a.m.
The woman reported the incident to the university police three weeks later, after mustering emotional readiness. Her attorney, Thomas Giuffra, stated that she contacted the police because she believed she was a crime victim, yet investigators allegedly did not follow up.
Cornell conducted an internal review resulting in two expulsions, with five others receiving suspensions and mandatory workshops. Cornell denied the assertion that writing essays was a form of punishment, stating that no one was arrested as a consequence.
The lawsuit accuses Cornell of breach of contract and negligence, seeking unspecified monetary damages. The university asserts that consequential punishments were indeed enforced and dismisses claims of minimal repercussions.
Cornell’s Response and Internal Investigation
Cornell stated it carried out a comprehensive Title IX investigation, resulting in hearings involving trained faculty and staff. Both the complainant and respondents could testify and provide evidence. Sanctions, including expulsions and suspensions, were levied against the accused students. The fraternity chapter closed in 2024 and remains barred from the campus. Cornell emphasized that suggestions of insufficient punishment are incorrect and potentially harmful to survivor reporting.
Criminal Investigation Reopened
On Sept. 28, the Tompkins County District Attorney’s Office announced the reopening of the criminal investigation due to community pressure. District Attorney Matthew Van Houten noted discrepancies between the civil lawsuit and the sworn statement from Jane Doe in November 2024. Originally, her statement described drug use and sexual conduct as voluntary. The DA emphasized the decision in 2024 could not consider the civil lawsuit allegations from two years later. He reached out to reconcile the statement disparities and began reopening the investigation, including consultations with Jane Doe and her attorneys.
Van Houten committed to presenting the case to a grand jury for an objective prosecution process, offering Jane Doe another chance to testify, alongside any new evidence from the civil complaint. Jane Doe’s attorney welcomes the renewed criminal probe, hoping it will be thorough and not a half-hearted endeavor.
Accusations and Defense
The lawsuit names Scott Kretzchmar as one of the implicated fraternity members. His lawyer, Jeremy Saland, acknowledged inappropriate Snapchat messages but refuted them as evidence of assault. Kretzchmar reportedly entered the room briefly without any inappropriate contact and left shortly after. A hair follicle test suggested no ketamine presence in Kretzchmar, contradicting the complainant’s accusation.
Saland expressed willingness to present exonerating evidence and desires the investigation to conclude favorably, allowing Kretzchmar to move on. CBS News has sought comments from other defendants in the lawsuit.
Reporters Lilia Luciano, Kinjal Patel, and Mahsa Saeidi contributed information for this report.