A Texas-based TikTok personality who claimed she solved crimes through tarot readings has been ordered to pay $10 million after a federal jury found she falsely accused a University of Idaho professor of orchestrating the 2022 murders of four students.
The verdict caps a high-profile defamation case that underscores the real-world consequences of viral online accusations.
Ashley Guillard, 41, built a following on TikTok by posting “psychic readings” about major crimes. In late November 2022 — weeks after the fatal stabbings of students Ethan Chapin, Xana Kernodle, Madison Mogen and Kaylee Goncalves — she began posting videos alleging that Rebecca Scofield, a history professor and department chair at the University of Idaho, was secretly behind the killings.
Guillard also claimed Scofield had an inappropriate romantic relationship with a student.
Those videos quickly spread, drawing millions of views and fueling online speculation at a time when investigators had not yet made an arrest.
Lawsuit Filed Before Arrest
Scofield, 40, filed a defamation lawsuit in December 2022 — just days before Bryan Kohberger was arrested and later charged in the murders. Kohberger eventually pleaded guilty last year, receiving four life sentences.
In court filings, Scofield said she was out of state with her husband at the time of the murders and had no connection to the victims. She stated none of the slain students had ever taken her classes and that she did not recall meeting them.
The Moscow Police Department publicly stated in 2022 that it did not believe the professor was involved in the crime.
Despite receiving a cease-and-desist letter and being served with the lawsuit, Guillard continued posting videos repeating the allegations. She represented herself during the four-day trial.
Jury Sends a Message
After just two hours of deliberation, jurors sided with Scofield, awarding her $10 million — far more than the $1 million her attorney had requested.
Of that total, $7.5 million was designated as punitive damages, meant to punish and deter similar conduct. The remaining amount compensates Scofield for harm to her reputation and emotional distress.
In a statement following the verdict, Scofield thanked the jury and emphasized that false online statements can have serious consequences.
She described the murders as the darkest chapter in the university’s history and expressed hope that the ruling would allow her to move forward with her family and community.
Online Claims, Real-World Impact
The case highlights the growing legal risks surrounding social media speculation — especially when accusations target private individuals during active criminal investigations.
What began as viral content ultimately became a costly courtroom battle. And with a multimillion-dollar judgment now in place, the verdict sends a clear signal: online influence does not shield anyone from accountability.
