The reported “normal in the medieval times” remark comes from Diego Sarabia’s account to Cornell university investigators. It is not established as Jane Doe’s statement or as a remark made to police.
What did the seven Chi Phi members reportedly tell university investigators?
Hindustan Times reported that seven men associated with Cornell’s Chi Phi fraternity gave investigators accounts that differed from Jane Doe’s account of the night. The report describes statements by individual men; it does not establish that all seven gave the same account or spoke to police.
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- Diego Sarabia: He reportedly recalled Doe saying something along the lines of “This was normal in the medieval times.” The report presents this as an approximate recollection, not a verified verbatim quotation.
- Matthew Ingalls and Jonathan Newell: They reportedly discussed a proposed threesome. Newell said he believed Ingalls had obtained consent.
- Gillio Lopes and Winston Lee: Their accounts reportedly differed over who initiated sexual contact.
- Scott Kretzschmar and Scott Norris: They reportedly said they entered the room after seeing a Snapchat message and did not perceive Doe to be intoxicated.
Hindustan Times also reported that several of the men said they had not seen obvious signs of severe intoxication and characterized Doe as consenting. Those are attributed accounts, not investigative findings.
What did Jane Doe tell police?
The accounts above were described as statements to university investigators. Separately, CBS reported that Doe told Cornell police weeks after the October 2024 encounter that she could say with “100% confidence” she had been raped. CBS also reported that District Attorney Matthew Van Houten said he had not seen the transcript containing that statement before his office’s initial decision not to bring charges.
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How do the accounts differ, and what is established?
Doe alleges that she was given alcohol and drugs and sexually assaulted at the fraternity residence. The men’s reported accounts dispute key aspects of her account, including her apparent intoxication and whether sexual contact was consensual. The cited reporting describes contested allegations and attributed recollections; it does not establish that anyone is criminally guilty.
Not noticing apparent intoxication does not, by itself, establish whether someone was capable of consenting or whether consent was given. Likewise, a witness’s account of what someone said is not conclusive proof of consent. The cited reports do not independently corroborate Sarabia’s recollection of the “medieval times” remark.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Why was the criminal investigation reopened?
According to the Associated Press, a civil lawsuit filed in September 2026 renewed scrutiny of the 2024 investigation, after which Van Houten reopened the criminal investigation. The AP also reported that Governor Kathy Hochul appointed New York Attorney General Letitia James as special prosecutor.
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1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsAs of October 3, 2026, the cited reporting establishes no final charging decision, trial outcome, or civil judgment. The inquiry is reopened and unresolved.
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