Some fraternity brothers accused of sexual assault at Cornell University attempted to contain allegations in the weeks following the incident, apparently concerned about their own reputations, according to text messages, phone calls, and other records reviewed by ABC News. Students speaking to campus authorities described these efforts by some members of the Chi Phi fraternity as “damage control,” aimed at ensuring the woman allegedly assaulted, identified as Jane Doe, was “not upset about the situation.”

These actions by fraternity brothers occurred as Jane Doe's perception of the events evolved. She initially believed the sexual encounters were largely consensual but later described them in a phone call as a “gang rape.” The incident, which took place at the Chi Phi house on October 19, 2024, has sparked national discussion regarding sexual violence and consent, particularly when alcohol, drugs, and pressure are involved.

Jane Doe told one of the alleged attackers, Matthew Ingalls, over the phone one day before reporting the incident to Cornell University Police: “The only way for me to heal is to know what happened. That's why I'm trying to just piece it together, you know, like I'm just like confused.” Ingalls, who police records indicate invited Doe to the fraternity house, has not responded to requests for comment but previously denied wrongdoing, as have other brothers named in a civil suit filed by Doe. Ingalls has not been charged with a crime.

During Cornell’s internal investigation, which ran from November 2024 through May 2025, Ingalls stated he was too intoxicated to consent and suggested Jane Doe had assaulted him, according to school records. The records reviewed by ABC News shed light on how Doe’s account of the incident shifted while the men involved seemingly attempted to portray the story as less serious.

Jane Doe initially described an evening that began casually when she visited a friend at his fraternity house. The situation escalated into a sexual encounter with two men that later involved others, while she was allegedly plied with alcohol and drugs, she later told police. Her account of the events has been central to Cornell's internal investigation.

“They tried to contact [Jane] almost every day after it happened to, I guess, keep them on her good side and keep her happy and not upset about the situation,” Jane Doe’s friend later told campus authorities in May 2025, according to records reviewed by ABC News. These efforts, however, were apparently unsuccessful.

Jane Doe ultimately reported the incident to Cornell Police, describing it as a rape. The Tompkins County District Attorney's office, however, declined to review additional material on the case from Cornell PD, according to documents obtained by ABC News.

Ingalls and the other fraternity brothers named in the civil suit have denied wrongdoing. The full extent of the alleged attempts at "damage control" and their impact on the investigation remain a focal point of the ongoing discussions surrounding the case.