Cornell Phone Record Requests Raise Questions in Assault Case
Sandego.net – Cornell police tried to get phone records soon after a student identified as Jane Doe reported that she had been sexually assaulted in 2024, according to draft letters prepared by campus investigators. The documents have raised new questions about what evidence was collected and whether it was shared with local prosecutors.
The letters, dated November 15, 2024, were addressed to Verizon and T-Mobile. They described an active sexual-assault investigation and asked the carriers to preserve data connected to specified accounts or phone numbers while investigators pursued further legal process.
What the draft requests sought
The notices said the accounts or telephone numbers could contain evidence relevant to the investigation. They indicated that investigators expected to provide a signed warrant within 30 days.
The preservation requests covered a broad range of possible digital evidence, including emails, text messages, call records, photographs and video messages. Such requests are generally intended to keep potentially relevant information from being deleted while authorities determine whether they can obtain a warrant or subpoena.
It is not publicly confirmed whether Verizon or T-Mobile received the letters, whether the data was preserved, or whether investigators ultimately obtained records. It is also unclear what evidence, if any, was forwarded to the Tompkins County District Attorney’s Office.
Questions over evidence shared with prosecutors
Jane Doe’s lawyer has said she recorded multiple calls with men alleged to have been involved. Whether prosecutors had access to those recordings, phone records or other materials collected by Cornell police has become a central issue in the handling of the case.
Records have indicated that the district attorney’s office chose not to review some material gathered by campus police after deciding not to pursue charges. The public record has not established the full scope of that material.
District Attorney Matthew Van Houten has said his office did not receive details of Doe’s rape allegations in 2024 and that he learned of the claims after they were described in a lawsuit filed last month. His office later reopened the matter and said a grand jury would determine whether criminal charges were warranted.
“It has become clear that we were not provided the full picture by the university.”
Days later, Gov. Kathy Hochul announced that New York Attorney General Letitia James would take responsibility for the investigation as a special prosecutor. Van Houten said he supported the appointment and welcomed an independent review.
Lawsuit intensifies scrutiny of Cornell
Doe filed a lawsuit last month against Cornell, the Chi Phi fraternity, seven Chi Phi members and several other entities. The complaint alleges that Cornell failed to protect her and did not adequately discipline students after she was allegedly drugged and sexually assaulted at the fraternity house in October 2024.
The allegations have prompted demonstrations in Ithaca and renewed debate about how universities respond when students report sexual violence. They have also intensified scrutiny of how campus police investigations intersect with criminal investigations led by local prosecutors.
Cornell President Michael Kotlikoff addressed the matter in a video statement released Saturday. He described the issues raised by Doe’s allegations as deeply disturbing and said the university would continue examining what occurred.
Doe’s alleged experiences raise “heartbreaking and troubling issues about sexual assault, dehumanization, and aspects of party culture, alcohol, and drug use.”
Kotlikoff said Cornell would continue its review and seek answers for the university community. His statement did not resolve the outstanding questions about investigative information and evidence sharing in 2024.
FAQ: What Cornell community members should know
Did Cornell police try to get phone records? Draft preservation letters show that Cornell police tried to get phone records and related account data from two wireless carriers. It remains unclear whether the requests were sent or whether records were obtained.
Who is handling the criminal investigation now? New York Attorney General Letitia James was appointed special prosecutor to take responsibility for the investigation.
Why do preservation requests matter? A preservation request can help prevent relevant digital data from being deleted while investigators seek the legal authority needed to access it. It does not itself establish what evidence was obtained or reviewed.
