Summary (tl;dr)

A former Cornell University student, identified as Jane Doe, has filed a civil lawsuit alleging she was drugged and gang-raped by seven fraternity members at the Chi Phi house in October 2024, leading to the reopening of a criminal investigation and renewed scrutiny of campus sexual assault policies.

Essential Background

In October 2024, a Cornell student, referred to as Jane Doe in legal filings, reported an alleged drugging and sexual assault that occurred at the Chi Phi fraternity house on campus. Cornell University initiated an internal Title IX investigation and imposed disciplinary actions against the accused students, which reportedly included temporary suspensions for some, with others being asked to submit essays. The Tompkins County District Attorney's office initially declined to file criminal charges based on the evidence presented at the time.

The Full Story

On September 14, 2026, Jane Doe filed a civil lawsuit against Cornell University, the national and local chapters of the Chi Phi fraternity, Moonies Bar & Nightclub, and seven current or former students: Matthew Ingalls, Jonathan Newell, Winston Lee, Gillio Lopes, Diego Sarabia, Scott Norris, and Scott Kretzschmar. The lawsuit alleges that Doe was served alcohol while underage at Moonies Bar & Nightclub, became visibly intoxicated, and was later drugged with ketamine and gang-raped for several hours by the aforementioned individuals at the Chi Phi fraternity house.

The lawsuit claims that during the alleged assault, a Snapchat message was sent to a Chi Phi group chat inviting other fraternity brothers to join. Following the filing of this civil suit and the public attention it garnered, the Tompkins County District Attorney's office announced on September 28, 2026, that it would reopen the criminal investigation into the allegations and present the case to a grand jury. One of the accused, Diego Sarabia, has reportedly been terminated from his position at Wells Fargo, a decision allegedly linked to the reopened investigation. Cornell University has stated its support for the District Attorney's decision to present the case to a grand jury and disputes the lawsuit's characterization of its initial disciplinary actions, affirming that the Chi Phi chapter was closed in 2024 and remains barred from campus, and that two students involved have been expelled.

Why It Matters

This trending story has ignited significant public outrage and criticism directed at Cornell University and the Tompkins County District Attorney's office regarding their handling of sexual assault allegations. The civil lawsuit and the renewed criminal investigation underscore ongoing concerns about campus safety, institutional accountability, and the effectiveness of current policies in addressing sexual violence at educational institutions. The outcome of both the civil and criminal proceedings could have significant implications for future sexual assault cases, potentially influencing how universities and legal systems investigate and prosecute such allegations, and may impact the reputations of all parties involved.

Geographic Location

• Chi Phi fraternity house, 107 Edgemoor Ln, Ithaca, Tompkins County, New York, United States (alleged drugging and gang rape occurred)
• Ithaca, Tompkins County, New York, United States (Tompkins County District Attorney reopened criminal investigation)
• New York, New York County, New York, United States (location where the civil lawsuit was filed)
• Charlotte, Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, United States (location of Wells Fargo branch where Diego Sarabia was reportedly employed)
• Bethel, Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States (location where summons was delivered to Diego Sarabia's mother)