The men accused in the Cornell University case have provided different versions of events from the fraternity party. This follows allegations made by a former student, who reported being violated. The seven members of the Chi Phi fraternity gave contrasting statements to investigators from the university’s Title IX office, making claims about the alleged victim’s behavior during the incident.
Details from a 101-page lawsuit filed by the alleged victim, referred to as Jane Doe, revealed serious accusations against the fraternity members. Doe claimed that the men sexually assaulted her while she was intoxicated and unable to give consent, and she also stated they provided her with illegal drugs. All the accused denied any wrongdoing during their interviews with university officials.
The New York Times obtained the interviews and additional confidential investigative files that were previously not public. The statements were made by the accused members during the winter of 2024. The documents indicated that the evening began when fraternity member Matthew Ingalls invited Jane Doe to engage in a threesome with him and fellow member Jonathan Newell.
While four of the accused admitted to having some sort of intimate contact with Doe, they argued that it was consensual. Others among the group denied any sexual interaction. The men’s statements occasionally contradicted one another, with one asserting he was a “victim” because Doe engaged in oral sex with him while he was too intoxicated to consent.
The interviews focused on the whereabouts and actions of the men on the night in question, rather than directly addressing whether they assaulted Doe. They described the sexual encounters starting after Ingalls made the invitation. According to Newell, he thought he was included in the threesome since Ingalls had asked for consent on his behalf. He admitted that both he and Ingalls had consumed a significant amount of alcohol and marijuana that night.
Doe’s lawsuit mentioned that Newell sent a Snapchat message to other frat members, announcing, “free p**sy,” referring to the situation in the bedroom. During later interviews, the other accused men suggested that Doe and her companions did not appear overly intoxicated. Winston Lee remarked that the others seemed to be behaving normally and were not slurring their words.
Fraternity member Gillio Lopes stated that he and Newell were in the room where the alleged incidents occurred. Lopes claimed that Doe initiated sexual contact with him without his consent. He later left the scene due to feeling uncomfortable, opting to go to a McDonald’s with friends, and did not share details of the night with them because he felt embarrassed. Lopes said he had a clear memory of the events, estimating he had about six drinks throughout the night, comprising three Keystone beers and three vodka-based drinks.
Lee, in his interview, also shared his perspective on the night.
What are your thoughts on the differing accounts shared by the accused?
Sources:
Source: Bored Panda, by Lei RV