Ex-South Park Writer Launches Cornell 7 Site Targeting Frat Rape Suspects as DA Reopens Case

A former South Park writer has launched a website targeting seven former Cornell University fraternity members accused in a civil lawsuit of sexually assaulting a woman, just as prosecutors have reopened their investigation into the 2024 allegations.

Toby Morton, who wrote five episodes of South Park between 2001 and 2003, launched TheCornell7.org after a former Cornell student filed a lawsuit alleging that she was drugged and sexually assaulted by members of the Chi Phi fraternity. None of the seven men has been criminally charged, and the allegations remain unresolved in court.

Toby Morton Launches 'Cornell 7' Website

Morton announced the website on social media, naming seven men who are defendants in the civil lawsuit: Matthew Ingalls, Johnathan Newell, Winston Lee, Gillio Lopes, Diego Sarabia, Scott Norris and Scott Kretzschmar.

He said the website would document the allegations and scrutinise the people involved, including Cornell employees whom he believes failed to adequately respond to the case.

Morton has described the project as an accountability campaign rather than traditional journalism. He also said he had obtained photographs and domain names associated with people connected to the case and claimed he was investigating where some of the accused men work.

His comments have attracted attention because of their unusually confrontational tone, with Morton warning that his campaign could expand to advertisements and billboards.

The Civil Lawsuit Contains Serious Allegations

The lawsuit was filed by a former Cornell student identified as Jane Doe. She alleges that she was drugged and sexually assaulted by seven Chi Phi fraternity members at a fraternity house in October 2024.

The complaint alleges that she was encouraged to take a substance described as ketamine before the alleged assault and that messages were subsequently circulated in a fraternity group chat. Those allegations have not been proven in court.

The seven men have not been criminally charged in connection with the allegations. At least one defendant's attorney has denied the accusations entirely, while another named defendant has denied participating in sexual activity or drug use.

Prosecutors Have Now Reopened the Investigation

The website's launch coincides with a significant development in the case.

Tompkins County District Attorney Matthew Van Houten said prosecutors are reopening the criminal investigation and intend to present the matter to a grand jury with the complainant's cooperation.

Van Houten said the allegations contained in the new civil lawsuit are 'dramatically different' from the account authorities assessed in 2024. He said prosecutors originally relied on the Cornell Police investigation and did not independently investigate the case.

The DA has said his office wants to determine whether evidence included in the new lawsuit could change the previous assessment and support potential criminal charges. The reopening of an investigation does not mean that charges have been filed or that prosecutors have concluded the allegations are true.

Cornell Disputes Claims About Student Punishments

The controversy also involves allegations about how Cornell handled the matter.

The civil complaint claims some students received temporary suspensions and were given opportunities to mitigate disciplinary consequences through measures including essay writing.

Cornell has strongly disputed the suggestion that the university failed to impose meaningful sanctions. The university said it conducted a separate Title IX investigation and that the resulting hearing process led to a range of sanctions, including expulsions and suspensions. Cornell also said the Chi Phi chapter remains barred from campus.

Because of student-privacy laws, Cornell has said it cannot publicly discuss the specific disciplinary outcomes involving individual students.

The 'Cornell 7' Campaign Raises Its Own Questions

Morton's campaign has added another layer to an already contentious case.

His website is not part of the criminal investigation or civil lawsuit, and publishing allegations or identifying defendants does not establish criminal responsibility. The legal process will determine whether the allegations can be substantiated.

At the same time, the campaign has ensured that the case remains highly visible as prosecutors reconsider what happened in 2024.

For now, the situation involves three separate developments: a civil lawsuit containing serious allegations, a reopened criminal investigation and Morton's independent online campaign. The grand jury process could determine whether the renewed investigation ultimately leads to criminal charges, while the civil case will separately address the claims made against the defendants and Cornell.