Cornell 7 Case Takes New Turn as Suspect Claims He Was the Victim While Too Intoxicated for Consent

The Cornell 7 case has taken a startling new turn after one of the accused fraternity members told university investigators he was too intoxicated to consent to sexual activity with the woman who has accused the group of sexual assault.

Matthew Ingalls, identified in school records as one of the seven Chi Phi fraternity members at the centre of the investigation, claimed he was so impaired by alcohol and ketamine on the night of 19 October 2024 that he was the one taken advantage of, not the plaintiff known in court documents as Jane Doe.

The case drew national attention when Doe filed a civil lawsuit on 16 September 2026 alleging she was drugged and sexually assaulted over several hours at the Chi Phi fraternity house on Cornell University's campus in Ithaca.

The complaint names the seven men, sometimes referred to as the 'Cornell 7', the fraternity, Cornell University and other parties, accusing them of negligence, sexual assault and battery, breach of contract and violations of the New York State Human Rights Law

Ingalls's Claim Adds Complication to Cornell 7 Case

According to school records, Ingalls told Cornell investigators that he was too intoxicated to consent and suggested that Doe had assaulted him. He told investigators he had consumed too much alcohol and ketamine and was not in any state to consent to intercourse.

Records show Ingalls was the fraternity member who allegedly invited Doe to the house and proposed a threesome. The encounter would later involve several other fraternity members, according to the civil complaint.

Ingalls claimed he did not realise his accuser was not sober when she arrived, telling her on a recorded call, 'You did tell me you were sober. You did, you said you hadn't been anywhere.'

Messages from a fraternity group chat with almost 60 members have also been linked to Ingalls. In one, he allegedly wrote, 'Like you can walk in and whip it out. Boys come whip it out.' Another message in the chat read, 'free p-ssy.'

Doe's account of the night, as described in her lawsuit, differs from Ingalls' account. She alleges she arrived at the Chi Phi house already '10 shots deep' and that the situation escalated after she was exposed to more alcohol and ketamine.

Celebrity Reactions and Political Developments in Cornell 7 Case

The case has drawn high-profile attention. British actress Florence Pugh described the allegations as a 'horrific act' and called on men to 'be angry' for women and help lead conversations about change.

'After reading about the young woman who was gang raped at her college by her friend and school peers, I'm feeling uneasy and sick and anxious,' Pugh wrote on Instagram.

Olivia Rodrigo also weighed in, saying, 'I stand with Jane Doe. Her bravery reverberates across the country and the crimes against her will not go unpunished.'

President Donald Trump has criticised the appointment of New York Attorney General Letitia James as special prosecutor in the case. Trump told reporters on 2 October that James was 'a corrupt person' and said he felt badly for those she was investigating because they would not get a 'fair shake.'

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul appointed James as special prosecutor on 1 October, saying she had lost confidence in the local investigation. James said her office would review the facts, gather evidence and interview witnesses before determining whether prosecution was warranted.

No criminal charges have been filed against Ingalls, and the men named in the lawsuit have denied wrongdoing. The allegations in the civil complaint have not been proven in court, while the criminal investigation led by New York Attorney General Letitia James remains ongoing.