Dharun Ravi And Tyler Clementi Timeline: Former Rutgers Roommate In Dorm Room Spying Trial

A timeline of events could be crucial to determining if Dharun Ravi is guilty of bullying and snooping on Tyler Clementi in the so-called "Roommate Webcam Spying" trial. Ravi was hit with a 15-count indictment, including bias intimidation and invasion of privacy, following Clementi's suicide in Sept. 2010.

• Reaction To The Verdict
• Judge Reveals Sentence
• Photos Of Clementi, Ravi And Key Moments From The Trial

Though not charged in Clementi's death, Ravi's case hinges on the roommates' interactions before Clementi jumped from the George Washington Bridge. Ravi used a computer camera to watch Clementi in a romantic encounter with a man, then wrote about it on Twitter. Clementi apparently experienced a range of emotions after he found out about Ravi's voyeurism. Was it a bad prank, as Ravi's defense claims, or was it hate crime against a gay roommate, as the prosecution alleges?

Aug. 2010

A week before the start of his freshman year at Rutgers, Dharun Ravi tries to find his future roommate online, according to the New Yorker. After an in-depth Internet search that leads to gay-themed discussion rooms, Ravi, a talented computer whiz, concludes that his roommate is gay.

Aug. 25, 2010
Three days before Clementi starts at Rutgers, he comes out as gay to his family, ABC News reported. He says to a friend that his father seemed "very accepting," while his mother seemed "very dismissive."

Aug. 28, 2010

Ravi and Clementi move into their dorm, Room 30 of Davidson Hall on the campus in New Brunswick, N.J.

Aug. 29, 2010

Ravi messages Jason Tam, a high school buddy, saying, "I think my roommate likes his privacy so I've been out of my room."

Sept. 16, 2010

Clementi texts Ravi to ask for privacy in their room at Davidson Hall. He invites a 25-year-old man, known so far only as "M.B.," to the dorm.

Sept. 19, 2010

Clementi, expecting another visit from M.B., texts Ravi asking for private use of their room.

9:00 p.m.

After playing ultimate frisbee, Ravi returns to Room 30 in Davidson Hall. He realizes after a short exchange with his roommate that Clementi wanted the room for the entire night.

Ravi goes to the room of Molly Wei, a friend who lived just across the corridor.

9:13 p.m.

Using Wei's computer, Ravi connects to his computer via iChat. He activates his webcam to see what's happening in his dorm room. The camera reveals Clementi kissing and embracing M.B. Wei says later they watched for just a few seconds.

9:17 p.m.

Ravi posts the following message to his Twitter account: "Roommate asked for the room till midnight. I went into molly's room and turned on my webcam. I saw him making out with a dude. Yay."

Soon after, Wei IMs her boyfriend, Austin Chung, regarding Clementi:

"He's NICE but he's kissing a guy right now / like THEY WERE GROPING EACH OTHER EWWW."

After 10 p.m.

With Ravi out of the room, Wei -- now with four other young women -- turns the iChat back on. They quickly see Clementi and M.B. with their shirts off and turn the program off again.

M.B. leaves Room 30.

Sept. 20, 2010

During an IM session with Yang, Clementi reportedly indicates that Ravi tweeted about his date with M.B. "But its not like he left the cam on or recorded or anything," Clementi wrote. "He just like took a five sec peep lol."

Sept. 21, 2010

2:22 a.m.

Clementi's mood changes and he posts a message on gay discussion forum Justusboys, asking for advice on how to handle the situation with Ravi:

"I feel like the only thing the school might do is find me another roommate, probably with me moving out...and i'd probably just end up with somebody worse than him...I mean aside from being an asshole from time to time, he's a pretty decent roommate."

4:00 a.m.

Clementi requests a room change on the Rutgers housing website.

Late Afternoon

Ravi receives a text from Clementi, asking to have the room to himself from 9:30 p.m. to midnight. Clementi invited M.B. over again.

6:39 p.m.

Ravi tweets, as reported by the Smoking Gun: "Anyone with iChat, I dare you to video chat me between the hours of 9:30 and 12. Yes, it's happening again."

7:44 p.m.

In another student's room with several other people, Ravi checks the iChat connection to his computer.

Later in the evening, Ravi texts a friend from high school, telling her to connect with his computer through iChat. "People are having a viewing party," he wrote.

Clementi reads Ravi's tweet from earlier that evening and meets with a resident adviser. He unplugs Ravi's computer.

9:41 p.m.

Clementi texts Yang, saying, "I was afraid he might have hidden another webcam so I also shut down and turned off the power strip."

10:19 p.m.

M.B. arrives at Davidson Hall.

11:48 p.m.

Clementi texts Ravi to let him know he can come back in the room, saying "we're done."

Midnight

In a formal email to the resident adviser he spoke with earlier, Clementi summarizes the incidents on Sept. 19 and 21 and quotes Ravi's Twitter account. He writes, "I feel that my privacy has been violated and I am extremely uncomfortable sharing a room with someone who would act in this wildly inappropriate manner."

Sept. 22, 2010

6:30 p.m.

Clementi takes a university bus to a train station. He heads into New York City, toward the George Washington Bridge.

8:42 p.m.

Clementi posts a status update on Facebook from his phone: "Jumping off the gw bridge sorry."

8:47 p.m.

Ravi texts Clementi to explain: "I'm sorry if you heard something distorted and disturbing but I assure you all my actions were good natured.”

8:57 p.m.

Ravi sends another text: "I've known you were gay and I have no problem with it. In fact one of my closest friends is gay and he and I have a very open relationship. I just suspected you were shy about it which is why I never broached the topic. I don't want your freshman year to be ruined because of a petty misunderstanding, it's adding to my guilt. You have a right to move if you wish but I don't want you to feel pressured to without fully understanding the situation."

Sept. 28, 2010

Middlesex County prosecutor's office charge Ravi and Wavi with invasion of privacy for the Sept. 19 viewing, and Ravi alone for the Sept. 21 viewing.

Sept. 29, 2010

Clementi's body is discovered in the Hudson River.

April 20, 2011

Ravi is indicted on charges of bias intimidation, invasion of privacy, witness tampering, and evidence tampering.

May 6, 2011

Wei accepts a plea deal to avoid jail time in favor of 300 hours of community service and some sensitivity counseling. She agrees to cooperate with prosecution in their case against Ravi.

October 20, 2011

Ravi turns down a plea bargain for a three- to five-year sentence.

December 9, 2011

Ravi rejects a second offer: six hundred hours of community service, no jail time.

Feb. 21, 2012
Ravi's trial begins in New Brunswick, N.J. He faces 10 years in prison.

March 14, 2012
Ravi is found guilty of 15 counts including bias, invasion of privacy, hindering apprehension and witness tampering. The verdict carries a possible sentence of five to 10 years.

May 21, 2012
Ravi was sentenced to 30 days in jail, three years of probation and 300 hours of community service.

Comments

[lenny87brown]

08:37 AM on 05/22/2012

Ravi would have better handled the situation by insisting their "private moments" be conducted in a motel or some other off campus site. A shared room hardly provides an expectation of privacy. It is more than merely inconvenient to find the necktie, sock or whatever on your doorknob. What of books, notes, etc. School is for study and exploration of one's sexuality secondary. Ravi may have been attempting to bring shame on Clementi to prevent this happening in their dorm room because he was tired of camping out in others' rooms. Bad judgment. Worse choices. Horrible outcomes. Until society has a means for actually assessing another's motives and not projecting their own, our legal system will continue to be eroded by activist agendas, political issues and transient emotions.

[nycrose212]

03:52 PM on 05/21/2012

Ravi was an idiot, yes. But guilty of murder? Give me a break. Does he deserve jail time? Absolutely. Ten years? Heck no...

[mmetiquint]

03:47 PM on 05/21/2012

WHY would that Ravi fellow turn down 600 hours of community service for possible jail time...doesn't make any sense! WHAT DOES HE EXCEPT...A PAT ON THE BACK?

[12crunch]

03:25 PM on 05/21/2012

Ravi's reaction was beyond inappropriate, criminal and should be punished, but I do not think he bullied Clementi I think that Clementi was a terrible roommate. I hate to put blame on a person who died in such a tragic manner, but he had no right to take over their shared room to have sex multiple times a week, totally wrong. He didn't seem to care where his roomate would have to go in the wee hrs during the school week. But, rather than violate his privacy Ravi should have asked to be moved as well. I do not think this was homiphobia I think it was criminal immaturity and he should have taken the plea deal. Clementi chose a very permenant solution to a temporary problem and his actions were as much a catalist as Ravi's. In my opinion It wasn't about gay or straight it was about a violation of space then a violation of trust and privacy rights this kid does not entirely deserve the weight thats been put on his shoulders.

[Redv14]

11:01 PM on 05/21/2012

I agree that Tyler was really being inconsiderate by asking to have the room to himself. Ravi should have refused and none of this would have happened. Ravi was wrong to agree to give Tyler privacy then turn around and violate his privacy. That was really low. Ravi's sentence is probably enough considering the community service and fines he has to pay. He should have apologized to Tyler's parents for invading their son's privacy and offer his condolences for the loss of their son.

[firefiterp]

02:43 PM on 05/21/2012

I think that since he was found guilty on ALL counts this sentence is waaay to light and I think the judge should be thrown in jail for being so freaking crappy at his job.

[Buggycas]

02:02 PM on 05/21/2012

I'm going to be honest here, Ravi would probably have done the same thing if Clementi had been dating a chick. It's immature, and rude, but it doesn't seem to be blatantly homophobic. that said, even IF Clementi had been dating a chick and this happened, a Month in Prison is appropriate, this is a massive invasion of privacy. I wouldn't want someone watching me if I had alone time with my boyfriend or girlfriend at the time.

[jerkchickn]

02:24 PM on 05/21/2012

It's pretty clear he has a gay bias. Read the tweets

[Buggycas]

02:56 PM on 05/21/2012

My roommate is making out with a dude Yay! can be taken a dozen ways, It was the girl's retweet that had the homophobic bias "With a guy? Ewwww!" It sounded more to me like he was glad that his roommate was accepting of himself, and just childish enough to tell the world. if someone tweeted the same thing about me (Only with a girl, as I am one) I would take offense from the "eww' comment and tell the Yay comment to grow up and leave me alone when I wanted some private time.

[wilray]

01:58 PM on 05/21/2012

What happened here should be seen in a similar light as surreptitious upskirt photos or clandestine gym cameras. What is the penalty there? I am certain it is not so light. Upskirt photographers are handled as sex offenders.

[moniqeva]

01:26 PM on 05/21/2012

I think he should have gotten at least a yr in jail + three years of probation, perform 300 hours of community service, undergo counseling and pay a $10,000

[tiredoftheBS]

08:09 PM on 03/16/2012

Technology requires a maturity and understqnding that unfortunately most people don't have. In this case a webcam had the power of a gun that I'm sure not one of us would have ever known, and if the problem was only a case of peeping, this case would mean nothing. It's a terrible situation.

[Lindsgrace33]

10:23 PM on 03/12/2012

Should have took the plea deal....

[pragmaticalpaula]

06:27 PM on 03/10/2012

I question whether this would have happened if Tyler was straight. No I do not believe it would have. Prejudice played a major role in this terrible tragedy. I believe that Ravi is guilty of murder.

[afeed10]

09:28 PM on 05/06/2012

"No I do not believe it would have. Prejudice played a major role in this terrible tragedy."

You're assumptions are very questionable. Ravi, as mentioned in the New Yorker article, had already been caught trying trick his friends into installing malicious software so he could spy on them with their webcams. This was not a new idea he came up with upon finding out his roomate was gay.

And you live in a fantasy world if you think being straight protects you from being violated by gays on camera. Minjin Oh, a gay student at Rutgers, videotaped HIMSELF sexually fondling his straight roomate as the roomate slept, a few months before Ravi webcammed Tyler making out with a THIRD PARTY. The difference was that the victim in the first case went straight to police, whereas the victim in the second case killed himself (though this wasn't actually linked to Ravi during the trial).

http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2012/04/rutgers_student_pleads_guilty.html

[Liberalholly]

03:00 PM on 03/06/2012

Ravi deserves to be punished for his crimes, but to be honest, I would be annoyed to no end if my roommate kept asking me to stay out of my room, that I am paying for, til at least midnight or longer. If Tyler wanted time alone, he should have done it appropriately by meeting at MB's place or getting a hotel room.

Asking a roommate 3 times in a week to leave so one can have sex is just wrong. I do though, believe Ravi is guilty as charged.

[Allison Smallison]

01:40 PM on 03/16/2012

I agree with your comment. I would have been annoyed and probably slightly vindictive if my roommate asked me out of the room so often, especially when the roommate relationship is so new. When you're a freshman and just beginning the college experience, it may be difficult and taxing to stay out of your room for long periods at a time at night.

Also, my guy friends in college did the same thing with their straight RA. The guys hacked into the RA's webcam and viewed an intimate liaison with the RA's girlfriend. They joked with the RA about it later and throughout the year, but nothing came from it except the guys were told it was inappropriate and that any further incident would be taken seriously.

I think that what Ravi did was obviously wrong, but I don't know if he was motivated because his roommate was gay, or because his roommate was hooking up. Based on this article and my previous experience with guys in a dorm-setting, motivation seems unclear to me.

In any event, it's so sad that Tyler ended his life. That's the tragic heart of the story.

[OnlyTheTruthPlz]

02:47 PM on 03/02/2012

This whole trial is a waste of time, money, and resources. Clementi knew what was going on and decided to take his own life. Let Ravi and others live with their guilt of whatever you want to call it. Move on people.

[tybofborg]

05:02 PM on 03/02/2012

Let the criminals go because their victim committed suicide? I'm afraid that's not how the justice system works. Ravi is being charged with a crime and there are all sorts of evidence against him. Justice will be served, and then he can live with the consequences of his actions, because he doesn't seem to be feeling a whole lot of guilt over them.

[clarkforever]

06:49 PM on 03/05/2012

Ravi knew darn well what he was doing. He should be given the death penalty. It was HIS fault Clementi took his life.

[hskip1943]

09:45 AM on 03/02/2012

This guy Ravi, such vermin like htis needs to be put out of the country, we have too many biggots here alreay!

[SukiTheCat]

01:28 PM on 03/02/2012

so he should just go back to this own country right? to where he came from? cuz he's brown? who's the bigot now?

[jerkchickn]

02:27 PM on 05/21/2012

Apparently

[dbrett480]

08:12 PM on 02/29/2012

It's going to be incredibly hard to prove that this is a hate crime.

[David Faisel]

12:20 AM on 03/02/2012

Is that what they are trying to prove? I thought it was invasion of privacy.

[crazytoledo]

08:19 PM on 05/21/2012

I can't speak for the courts but it seems the people automatically assumed it was a hate crime when the same thing would have likely happened if it involved Clementi with a woman