Tompkins County District Attorney Matthew Van Houten announced on Monday, September 28, 2026, that his office is reopening a criminal investigation into the alleged gang rape of a former Cornell University student. The decision follows the filing of a civil lawsuit on September 14, which alleges the incident occurred at the Chi Phi fraternity house in October 2024. Van Houten stated that a senior prosecutor experienced in sex crimes has been assigned to prepare the case for a grand jury.
The district attorney noted that the allegations in the recent civil complaint differ significantly from the sworn statement provided by the woman, referred to as Jane Doe, in November 2024. According to Van Houten, the original statement described the sexual conduct and drug use as voluntary and consensual, and did not include allegations of being drugged against her will or gang-raped. The new civil filing alleges that seven fraternity members drugged and raped Doe for several hours while she was incapacitated.
Attorneys for two men named in the lawsuit have denied the allegations. Jeremy Saland, representing Scott Kretzschmar, stated that his client never sexually assaulted or touched the plaintiff. An attorney for Scott Norris stated that Norris did not participate in sexual activity or drug use and was not found responsible for such actions by Cornell's internal investigation. Cornell University reported that its own Title IX investigation resulted in a range of sanctions, including expulsions and suspensions, though it did not specify which individuals were punished.
For the individuals involved, the concrete impact is the transition from a closed matter to an active criminal proceeding, which may lead to felony indictments, court appearances, and potential incarceration. Current students and faculty at Cornell will see a renewed focus on campus safety policies and the efficacy of the university's Office of Civil Rights, which adjudicated the matter in 2025. The university has already pushed back against claims that its internal punishments were insufficient, asserting that a hearing panel issued consequential sanctions following a multi-day evidence review.
What happens next: The district attorney's office will seek the cooperation of Jane Doe to present evidence to a Tompkins County grand jury. If the grand jury finds sufficient evidence of criminal conduct, it will vote to indict one or more of the individuals involved. The university has stated it supports the district attorney’s decision to reexamine the case. No specific dates for grand jury testimony or potential court hearings have been reported at this time.