The texts
New court documents have dropped in the high-profile Cornell gang rape case, and the real tea is in the chat history. Newly resurfaced text messages obtained by CBS News show the student, referred to as Jane Doe, being friendly with two of the seven fraternity brothers she later accused of assault.
In messages sent just days after the October 2024 party, Doe chatted with Matthew Umar Ingalls about dealing with campus gossip. In a moment that’s honestly giving chaos, she mentioned past "transgender allegations" she had faced, telling Ingalls that silence is the best way to handle rumors. "We know i’m not transgender so," she wrote, while Ingalls responded with laughing emojis. She also told him she would "beat up" anyone giving him trouble, lowkey offering to have his back.
The shift
Another series of messages shows Doe asking another accused student, Jonathan Newell, for help finding lost earrings. In those same threads, she originally claimed "none of the sexual stuff was illegal." But the vibes shifted hard by November 3. About two weeks after the party, she sent a message to Newell stating that 90% of what happened was not consensual, alleging she had been drugged with ketamine.
Why it matters
Following these exchanges, Doe went to an ER to request a rape kit and reported the event to police. While no fraternity brothers faced criminal charges, Cornell launched a Title IX investigation that led to the expulsion of Ingalls and Newell. The incident is back in the spotlight after Doe filed a lawsuit last month, prompting authorities to reopen the case with a special prosecutor. All seven named men, including Winston Lee, Gillio Lopes, Diego Sarabia, Scott Norris, and Scott Kretzschma, continue to deny the allegations. If you or someone you know needs support, contact the Sexual Assault Hotline at 800-656-HOPE.
