Cornell police tried to get phone records in Jane Doe’s sex assault investigation. Her lawyer says records never got to DA
Cornell Phone Records Questioned in Sexual Assault Investigation
Qwenews.com – Cornell police tried to get phone records after a student publicly identified as Jane Doe reported a sexual assault involving members of the Chi Phi fraternity. Draft letters from November 15, 2024, are raising questions about whether potential evidence was preserved and shared with prosecutors before charges were declined.
The letters, addressed to Verizon and T-Mobile, were prepared about a week after Doe reported the alleged assault. They said Cornell University police were investigating a sexual assault and believed the phone accounts listed could contain evidence relevant to the case.
Each draft asked the wireless companies to retain available account information, including emails, text messages, call records, photographs and video messages. The documents stated that investigators expected to provide a signed warrant within 30 days.
Questions Remain About the Records
It is unclear whether Cornell police tried to get phone records by sending the letters to the carriers, whether warrants or subpoenas were ultimately obtained, or whether the materials reached the Tompkins County District Attorney’s Office. That office initially handled the investigation and declined to file charges in 2024.
Doe’s attorney has said she recorded several conversations with men alleged to have been involved and has maintained that relevant phone records never reached prosecutors. Phone data can help investigators document communications, preserve media and establish a timeline, but a preservation request alone does not show that records were obtained, reviewed or shared.
Cornell, its police department, Verizon, T-Mobile and the district attorney’s office have been asked about the status of the requests and whether any records were provided. The dispute has focused attention on how evidence moves among campus police, outside providers and local prosecutors.
Lawsuit and Protests Put Pressure on Cornell
Doe filed a lawsuit last month against Cornell University, Chi Phi, seven fraternity members and several other entities. She alleges that the university 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.
Demonstrators gathered in Ithaca and beyond the Cornell campus Monday, calling for “Justice for Survivors.” Their signs included messages such as “Justice for every Jane Doe,” while speakers called for institutional change.
“Trust is broken at Cornell. It’s broken from the top down, and it’s broken peer to peer,” said Sabrina Karim, an associate professor in Cornell’s department of government.
Julia Chang, an associate professor in Cornell’s department of romance studies who identified herself as a survivor, also addressed the crowd. She argued that language describing a campus “rape culture” should not make sexual violence seem unavoidable.
Organizers also circulated flyers for a seven-hour sit-in planned for Wednesday in solidarity with Doe. Earlier Monday, anonymous activists damaged a glass door at an administration building and painted messages on its walls. University officials said the vandalism was under investigation.
Ithaca FAQ: What Is Known About the Investigation?
Did Cornell police obtain the phone records? The available draft letters show that Cornell police sought to preserve records, but it remains unclear whether the requests were sent, whether legal orders were secured or whether records were received.
Did the district attorney receive the evidence? Doe’s attorney says relevant records did not reach the district attorney’s office. Questions remain about what information prosecutors received before they declined to file charges in 2024.
What is happening now? Cornell police tried to get phone records, and the handling of those requests has become part of wider scrutiny surrounding Doe’s lawsuit, campus demonstrations and calls for accountability.
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