Records show Cornell frat members tried to contain rape claim

Records, calls and messages reviewed by ABC News suggest some Cornell University Chi Phi fraternity members tried to manage allegations after a student reported she had been raped at the fraternity house, ABC7 Los Angeles reported. No criminal charges had been brought at the time of the report.

The case has drawn scrutiny of Cornell’s response, fraternity conduct and the handling of sexual assault allegations after a university investigation led to two expulsions and additional suspensions.

ABC7 Los Angeles reported that ABC News reviewed Cornell internal investigation files, student communications, recorded calls and other records tied to an alleged Oct. 19, 2024, assault at the Chi Phi fraternity house in Ithaca.

Cornell University Police recorded Jane Doe’s initial report as saying, "A female undergraduate student reported that she was recently raped by 8-10 men at the Chi Phi fraternity house." Jane Doe went to police on Nov. 8, 2024, the same day Cornell suspended Chi Phi, according to ABC News.

In one recorded call obtained by ABC News, Cornell junior Jane Doe said, "The only way for me to heal is to know what happened," and added, "That's why I'm trying to just piece it together, you know, like I'm just like confused." During the call, she told Matthew Ingalls, a Cornell student and Chi Phi member, "What y'all did would be classified as gang rape."

Ingalls said during the recorded call, "You did tell me you were sober, by the way," according to ABC News. Jane Doe responded, "That is not true. I never would have said that." Ingalls and other fraternity brothers named in Jane Doe’s civil suit have denied wrongdoing, and Ingalls has not been charged with a crime, ABC News reported.

ABC News reported that messages among fraternity members showed discussions about contacting Jane Doe, fraternity strategy and evidence in Cornell’s internal proceedings. Cornell’s investigation ran from November 2024 through May 2025 and resulted in two expulsions and other suspensions.

Cornell later announced that an outside law firm would review the university’s handling of the allegations and its subsequent investigation, according to ABC News.