Matthew Ingalls, a member of the Chi Phi fraternity at Cornell University, has claimed that he was too intoxicated to consent to sexual activity during an alleged gang-rape incident involving a female student, identified as Jane Doe in court documents. According to records obtained by ABC News, Ingalls stated to campus police that he was under the influence of alcohol and ketamine on the night of the incident in 2024. He suggested that the alleged victim was the one who assaulted him, countering her claims against him and six other fraternity brothers involved in the case.
The incident has drawn significant attention, with Cornell University facing scrutiny over its handling of sexual assault allegations. Ingalls reportedly invited the woman to the fraternity house and proposed a threesome, which allegedly escalated into multiple fraternity members engaging in sexual acts with her. Reports indicate that the woman was incapacitated due to the substances given to her during the encounter.
Ingalls has been previously identified in a fraternity group chat where he made comments about the alleged victim, suggesting that there was an opportunity for sexual encounters at the house. He allegedly fell asleep during the encounter, leading another fraternity brother to take his place before he rejoined later.
As of now, neither Ingalls nor the other fraternity members have been criminally charged. However, Tompkins County District Attorney Matthew Van Houten stated that he is reopening the investigation based on new details presented in a civil lawsuit filed by the alleged victim last month.