Marine family misserved in Cornell 7 lawsuit faces death threats after address posted

A U.S. Marine sergeant named Matthew Ingalls was mistakenly served with a civil complaint on September 18, 2026, in connection with the Cornell 7 lawsuit alleging gang rape at a fraternity house in October 2024.

The error placed the Marine’s Ithaca home address on the official court docket, allowing online users to locate and harass the unrelated family. Victoria Ingalls, the Marine’s mother, said a delivery person handed her the 101‑page complaint at her door on October 1, 2026.

Within hours, the family’s address and phone numbers were posted on internet forums. The Marine’s 26‑year‑old daughter received a Google‑Earth image of her brother’s house and a series of violent text messages, including a chilling directive to “do the world a favor and go kill yourself.”

Victoria Ingalls described the experience as terrorizing, saying, “My family’s been threatened and harassed. I can’t believe people will look someone up, take a phone number and start texting or calling with vile things, even when they don’t have the right person.”

The lawsuit, filed by an anonymous plaintiff identified as Jane Doe, alleges that seven men from the Chi Phi fraternity pressured a woman to consume ketamine, alcohol, and marijuana before repeatedly assaulting her. The complaint was originally served on the non‑attending Matthew Ingalls because his name matches that of one of the accused students.

An associate at the plaintiff’s law firm confirmed the firm is working with the court and the process server to correct the mistake, and that a new service will be arranged for the correct individual. The firm also noted that the court is updating the docket to reflect the accurate address.

Tompkins County District Attorney Matthew Van Houten reopened the criminal investigation into the alleged assault following the civil filing, underscoring the broader legal scrutiny surrounding the case.

The Ingalls family, whose son is stationed at Camp Lejeune in North Carolina, now fears for their safety despite military protections. Victoria Ingalls said she is “mostly scared for my kids” as the online mob continues to circulate personal details.

The incident raises questions about procedural safeguards in high‑profile civil litigation, especially when public docket information can expose uninvolved parties to harassment.