One of the seven men named in a civil complaint involving the alleged gang rape of a Cornell student in 2024 attended high school in South Florida, records show.
Jonathan Newell of Broward County graduated from the NSU University School in Davie in 2023 and then attended Cornell University, according to a social-media page that posted college decisions from the high school’s seniors.
The president's office at Nova Southeastern University did not immediately return a request for comment from The Palm Beach Post.
Newell is one of seven members of the Xi Chapter of the Chi Phi fraternity at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York, who allegedly raped the student on Oct. 19, 2024. The complaint describes him as one of the instigators of the assault.
The incident took place at the fraternity house on the university’s campus, according to a civil complaint filed on Sept. 14. The drugging and assault lasted about seven hours, according to the complaint.
What happened in the alleged Cornell gang rape?
That day, Newell and another fraternity member, Matthew Ingalls, allegedly pressured the victim, who is called Jane Doe in the complaint, into snorting ketamine, a medication used as an anesthetic and to treat chronic pain and psychiatric disorders, according to the complaint.
They also plied her with marijuana and a type of high-proof rum, according to the complaint.
Then, they engaged in sexual acts with her without her consent, according to the complaint. Newell then sent a message in a Snapchat group chat called “Chi Phi Actives” claiming there was “free p****” upstairs, the complaint reads.
“In doing so, Defendant NEWELL organized and encouraged other XI CHAPTER members to join in on the gang rape of Plaintiff in the XI CHAPTER fraternity house,” reads the complaint.
Jane Doe reported the incident to Cornell University police, and the Xi Chapter was suspended. The men were temporarily removed from the university and given the opportunity to “mitigate their conduct by submitting essays to Cornell,” the complaint reads. The New York Times reported on Oct. 3 that Newell and Ingalls were expelled.
Cornell released a statement regarding its open investigation into the “serious and deeply disturbing allegations of drug abuse and sexual violence at the Chi Phi fraternity house,” the complaint said.
The university conducted an investigation in response to the victim’s complaint under Title IX of the U.S. civil rights law, which bars sexual misconduct at universities receiving federal money. The Ithaca Police Department is still investigating, the complaint said.
Cornell sexual assault investigation has been reopened
New York prosecutors reopened the sexual assault investigation after Jane Doe filed the civil lawsuit in September. Tompkins County District Attorney Matthew Van Houten confirmed that decision to USA TODAY. Cornell University said on Sept. 28 that it supports the decision to reopen the case.
Van Houten said charges were not brought in November 2024 when the woman first told university police because she did not allege at the time that she was either drugged or assaulted.
“On the contrary, Jane Doe’s statement described her participation in drug use and sexual conduct as voluntary, conscious, and consensual,” he said.
Van Houten said he has considered bringing charges and has since contacted the woman’s attorneys.
“Once we determine the appropriate charges, the case will be prosecuted in the most objective and impartial means available – by testimony to the Tompkins County Grand Jury,” Van Houten said.
USA TODAY reporter Saleen Martin and editor Joel Shannon contributed to this story.
Maya Washburn is a Trending News Reporter for The Palm Beach Post, part of the USA TODAY Florida-Network. Reach her at mwashburn@pbpost.com. Support local journalism: Subscribe today.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: One of Cornell 7 is a South Florida high school graduate. What to know
