Newly surfaced documents suggest Cornell University police drafted requests for phone records roughly one week after a student, identified as Jane Doe, reported a 2024 sexual assault by members of the Chi Phi fraternity. These records, addressed to Verizon and T-Mobile on November 15, 2024, directed the carriers to preserve data, including calls, text messages, emails, and images, indicating that investigators were actively pursuing evidence at that time. It remains unclear whether these requests were officially delivered, if the companies responded, or if Tompkins County District Attorney Matthew Van Houten was informed of their existence before his office declined to pursue charges. Newly obtained documents reviewed by show Cornell University police drafted letters to wireless carriers about a week after a student now known as Jane Doe told police she had been sexually assaulted by members of the Chi Phi fraternity in 2024. According to the drafts, addressed to Verizon and T-Mobile on November 15, 2024,, Cornell police were “investigating a sexual assault incident, wherein it is believed that the account/phone number listed below may contain evidence pertinent to the ongoing investigation.”. According to they, A signed warrant would be sent within 30 days and told the phone companies to “preserve all available data” associated with the accounts, including emails, text messages, phone calls, pictures and video messages. Has requested a copy of the records.
The controversy surrounding the investigation has intensified, fueled by Doe’s recent lawsuit against Cornell, the fraternity, and several of its members. Her attorney, Thomas Giuffra, noted that Doe had also recorded several telephone conversations with the accused individuals. While a Cornell spokesperson previously stated the university provided all investigatory information to the district attorney, Van Houten has asserted that his office never received specific details regarding the assault allegations in 2024. He stated he only became aware of certain records after his office initially closed the case, prompting him to reopen the investigation for grand jury review, a process that was subsequently paused. The Chi Phi fraternity, seven members of Chi Phi and several other entities, saying the school failed to protect her and adequately punish the students after she was allegedly sexually assaulted and drugged at Chi Phi’s fraternity house in October 2024, doe’s case gained national attention after she filed a lawsuit last month against Cornell University.
Critical scrutiny has focused on the gap between the campus police investigation and the district attorney’s oversight. Reports indicate that the DA’s office declined to review additional materials collected by campus police after determining that the initial six-page summary of Doe’s statement—which was a condensed version of a much longer interview—did not warrant charges. Prosecutors maintained that their decision was based on the provided evidence, while critics argue the investigation was fundamentally flawed. Giuffra highlighted concerns that Doe’s initial statement was processed without adequate support, noting that the survivor had been interviewed extensively, yet only a limited, signed summary reached prosecutors.
The broader impact of this case has sparked national debate regarding university responses to reports of violence. Cornell’s administration has faced mounting pressure, with University President Kotlikoff pledging increased transparency and a review of Greek life, noting that one-third of the undergraduate population participates in such organizations. He expressed commitment to addressing systemic issues of dehumanization, alcohol use, and party culture on campus, acknowledging that recent findings regarding the handling of Doe’s case are distressing.
Internal university data from 2025 indicated that 35% of female undergraduates at Cornell reported nonconsensual sexual contact during their time at the school. Doe, who sought medical care at Cornell Health shortly after the incident for a urinary tract infection, reported that staff failed to conduct an appropriate forensic exam or provide adequate support, leaving her feeling vulnerable and unsupported. As the case continues to draw high-level attention, including from Governor Kathy Hochul, who described the situation as horrifying, the university and local authorities remain under intense scrutiny regarding their procedural failures and the protection of students.
