Crisis at Cornell. Husband on trial for missing wife's murder. Plus, "The Widower" documentary.

October 8, 2026

AI Summary

5 min read

Crisis at Cornell, a Bodyless Murder Trial, and the Widower's Game

The Cornell University campus in Ithaca, New York—with its rolling hills and stone buildings—has been rocked by protests after a former student filed a 100-page civil lawsuit alleging she was drugged and sexually assaulted by seven members of the Chi Phi fraternity in October 2024. The case has drawn attention not only for the disturbing allegations but for what critics say is a deeply flawed response from both the university and local law enforcement, compounded by a New York state law that makes prosecuting such cases especially difficult.

The Cornell Assault Case and Its Aftermath

The plaintiff, identified as Jane Doe, was a sorority member who went out drinking with her sisters before stumbling alone to the Chi Phi house to see a friend. According to the lawsuit, the friend suggested a threesome with another man, and then ketamine was introduced. On top of alcohol, the drug "really eroded her ability to consent," as NBC correspondent Maggie Vespa explained. While the assault was unfolding, messages in the fraternity group chat beckoned other men to the room. One asked if the "shop's still open"; another told members to "whip it out" alongside a photo of Jane Doe. More than 50 fraternity members were in that group chat. Jane Doe's attorney called the screenshot a "smoking gun."

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What you'll learn

1 (01:06) **Episode Open & Host Introduction** - Laura Jarrett introduces the docket for October 8th, previewing the Cornell sex assault crisis, the Mamta Kafle trial, Caleb Flynn's sentencing, and the Netflix documentary "The Widower."
2 (02:44) **Crisis at Cornell: Lawsuit, Protests, and a Campus in Turmoil** - A former student's civil suit alleging a drugging and gang rape at a Chi Phi frat party has sparked mass protests and a faculty vote of no confidence.
3 (12:53) **Criminal Investigation: DA Declined Charges, AG Takes Over** - The local DA declined to prosecute in 2024, citing a lack of evidence, but the state Attorney General has now stepped in.
4 (16:46) **The Mamta Kafle Bhat Murder Trial** - A Northern Virginia man is on trial for murdering his wife, a beloved pediatric nurse, even though her body has never been found.
5 (26.47) **Jury Selection and Trial Logistics** - Jury selection has begun in a high-profile case, with the judge taking strict measures to prevent jurors from being influenced by news notifications.
6 (28:09) **Caleb Flynn Sentencing: Daughters Confront Their Father** - Convicted murderer and former *American Idol* contestant Caleb Flynn is sentenced to life without parole for the murder of his wife Ashley.
7 (35:59) **"The Widower": Inside the Netflix Documentary** - Senior investigative producer Dan Slepian discusses his 15-year cat-and-mouse game with Thomas Randolph, a man accused of murdering his sixth wife.

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Show Notes

In New York State, tensions escalate on Cornell campus over allegations of sexual assault at the Chi Phi fraternity house in 2024. In Virginia, young nurse and mother Mamta Bhatt went missing two years ago. Her husband is now on trial for her alleged murder. In Ohio, former American Idol contestant Caleb Flynn, convicted of murdering his wife, Ashley, speaks at his sentencing. His daughters' letters to him were read in court. Plus, Dateline Senior Investigative Producer Dan Slepian discusses new Netflix documentary, "The Widower: ‘Til Death Do Us Part."

Listen to the latest episode of "Before & After with Lester Holt": https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/before-after-with-lester-holt/id6806378137

Find out more about the cases covered each week here: www.datelinetruecrimeweekly.com.

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