Some fraternity brothers accused of sexual assault at Cornell University allegedly engaged in "damage control" in the weeks following a 2024 incident, attempting to manage the situation and protect their reputations, according to records reviewed by ABC News. The efforts by members of the Chi Phi fraternity appear to have been aimed at keeping the woman, identified as Jane Doe, "happy and not upset about the situation," a friend of Jane Doe later told campus authorities.

This "damage control" occurred as Jane Doe's perception of the events evolved. She initially believed the sexual encounters were largely consensual but later described the incident as a "gang rape" in a phone call with one of the accused students, Matthew Ingalls. "The only way for me to heal is to know what happened," she stated on the call, expressing confusion about the events of that evening.

Ingalls, who police records indicate invited Jane Doe to the fraternity house, has not been charged with a crime. He previously denied wrongdoing, as have other brothers named in a civil suit filed by Doe. During Cornell's internal investigation, Ingalls reportedly claimed he was too intoxicated to consent and suggested Jane Doe had assaulted him, according to school records.

The incident, which occurred on October 19, 2024, at the Chi Phi house, has garnered national attention and reignited discussions about sexual violence and consent, particularly when alcohol, drugs, and pressure are involved. ABC News has reviewed records from Cornell's internal investigation, which ran from November 2024 to May 2025, along with communications between students that illuminate how Jane Doe's account changed while the men involved allegedly attempted to portray the events more benignly.

Jane Doe has described an evening that began casually and escalated into a sexual encounter involving multiple men while she was under the influence of alcohol and drugs. Her friend later recounted to campus authorities that the fraternity brothers "tried to contact [Jane] almost every day after it happened" to maintain her good favor.

Despite these efforts, Jane Doe reported the incident to Cornell University Police as a rape. The Tompkins County District Attorney's office later declined to review additional material related to the case provided by Cornell PD, according to documents obtained by ABC News.

Cornell University has faced scrutiny over its handling of sexual assault cases. The university's internal investigation aimed to address the allegations, but the lack of criminal charges has drawn criticism from victim advocacy groups.

The broader implications of this case extend to how universities and law enforcement agencies handle allegations of sexual assault, particularly when consent is disputed and substances are involved. The differing accounts and the alleged attempts to influence Jane Doe's perception highlight the complex dynamics at play in such situations.