The recorded call, obtained by ABC News, captures Matthew Ingalls—a member of Cornell's Chi Phi fraternity—appearing to question the memory of a woman who later filed a civil suit alleging she was drugged and gang raped in October 2024. The conversation reportedly occurred one day before the woman, identified in court filings as Jane Doe, reported the incident to campus police. Cornell says its independent probe produced sanctions (including suspensions and expulsions), while state officials have appointed a special prosecutor to review the criminal case. A 2025 Cornell survey also shows a rise in reported nonconsensual contact among undergraduate women.
Recorded Call Shows Cornell Fraternity Member Questioning Alleged Victim’s Memory in Gang Rape Lawsuit
Cornell UniversityCredit: Bing Guan/Bloomberg via Getty
A recorded phone call obtained by ABC News appears to capture a Cornell University fraternity member, Matthew Ingalls, questioning the memory of a woman who later filed a civil suit alleging she was drugged and sexually assaulted by members of the Chi Phi fraternity in October 2024.
Recording Details
According to reporting, the call took place one day before the woman—identified in court filings as Jane Doe—reported the incident to Cornell University police in November 2024. In the recording, Doe tells Ingalls that the night left her with "so much damage on my body and brain." Ingalls responds that she told him she was sober and later recounts his own limited memory of the evening.
“I have racked my brain for this mystery,” Ingalls reportedly says. “You know it's possible that both of us, like, remember this and it's not true.”
Doe pushes back, saying she remembers looking up and thinking, "That is too many people," and asks about other men she recalls being on the bed and in the room.
Allegations and Civil Lawsuit
In a civil complaint filed Sept. 16 in New York Supreme Court, Doe alleges that in October 2024, when she was a 20-year-old student, she was given ketamine and sexually assaulted over several hours by seven Chi Phi members. The complaint also states that on the same night a member posted to a Snapchat group called "Chi Phi Actives" that there was "free p---- upstairs," and ABC News reported that Ingalls allegedly wrote, "Like you can walk in and whip it out."
University Investigation and Response
Cornell says it conducted a months-long independent investigation that led to a range of sanctions, including temporary suspensions and expulsions. Doe's attorney has said only two of the seven defendants were expelled and others received lesser penalties, such as assigned essays. Cornell issued a statement defending the scope and consequences of its disciplinary actions and stressing support for survivors.
Criminal Review and Special Prosecutor
After Doe filed her civil suit, the Tompkins County District Attorney announced he would reopen the criminal investigation. New York Governor Kathy Hochul later appointed State Attorney General Letitia James as special prosecutor, citing a loss of faith in local investigators and calling for an independent, thorough review.
Status Of Allegations
ABC News reports that all seven defendants named in the lawsuit have denied the allegations. During Cornell's internal investigation, Ingalls reportedly told officials he was too intoxicated to consent. The civil complaint states that no criminal charges were filed after the initial report to campus police.
Wider Context
The story comes amid growing concern about campus sexual violence: a 2025 Cornell survey found that 35% of undergraduate women reported experiencing nonconsensual sexual contact, up from 23% in 2023.
Resources
If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) or visit rainn.org for support and resources.
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