A former Cornell student alleges she was drugged and sexually assaulted in October 2024 and that a photo of her was shared in a Chi Phi fraternity group chat. The civil complaint filed in September 2026 includes a Snapchat screenshot and, according to CBS News, the accuser told investigators two men lured her into a closet while she drifted in and out of consciousness. No criminal charges have been filed; the Tompkins County DA has reopened the probe and will present evidence to a grand jury, and New York Attorney General Letitia James has been asked to take over the investigation.
Former Cornell Student Says Two Men Lured Her Into Closet and Raped Her; State AG Takes Over Investigation
Chi Phi fraternityCredit: AP Photo/Heather Ainsworth
A former Cornell student who filed a civil suit this year alleges she was drugged and sexually assaulted by members of the Chi Phi fraternity in October 2024. The complaint, filed in September 2026, says a photo of the woman was shared in a fraternity group chat during the night she says she was attacked and includes a screenshot of a Snapchat message reportedly referencing the intoxicated student.
Allegations and Evidence in the Complaint
The civil filing alleges multiple sexual assaults that lasted hours. According to reporting by CBS News, the woman told investigators that at one point two men led her into a closet and assaulted her while she was drifting in and out of consciousness.
"It was just raping," the woman told investigators, according to CBS News.
The complaint includes a screenshot of a Snapchat message purportedly sent to a group labeled "Chi Phi Actives," which allegedly referenced an intoxicated woman at the gathering.
Criminal Review and State Intervention
No criminal charges have been filed to date. Tompkins County District Attorney Matthew Van Houten said that when the woman first reported the incident to campus police in 2024, his office did not bring charges. Van Houten also said the woman's 2024 statement differed in some respects from the allegations in the 2026 civil complaint; he has reopened the investigation and said his office is preparing to present evidence to a grand jury.
On Oct. 1, 2026, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said she had lost confidence in the district attorney and asked State Attorney General Letitia James to oversee the investigation. Attorney General James said her office would lead a review "guided by the facts and the law."
"Every New Yorker deserves to know that when they report a crime, it will be investigated fully and fairly," Attorney General Letitia James said in a statement.
Campus Context
The case has drawn national attention and raised broader questions about sexual assault on campus. A Cornell survey cited in reporting found that 35% of undergraduate women reported experiencing "nonconsensual sexual contact," up from 23% the previous year.
Note: The allegations remain claims in a civil complaint. No one has been criminally charged, and investigations by local and state authorities are ongoing.
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