Influencer Faces Consequences After Making Viral Accusations in Idaho Murder Case

A federal jury in Boise has awarded University of Idaho professor Rebecca Scofield $10 million in damages after determining that a Texas TikToker falsely linked her to the 2022 stabbing deaths of four college students.

The verdict, delivered Friday in U.S. District Court, included $7.5 million in punitive damages and $2.5 million in compensatory damages against Houston resident Ashley Guillard, who had published a series of defamatory TikTok videos about the professor.

Scofield, who chairs the university’s history department, filed the lawsuit in December 2022 after Guillard claimed without evidence that the professor had a romantic relationship with one of the victims and orchestrated the killings. These unfounded allegations spread across TikTok, where Guillard had amassed over 100,000 followers, with some videos receiving millions of interactions.

The murders of Kaylee Goncalves, Madison Mogen, Xana Kernodle, and Ethan Chapin on November 13, 2022, shocked the college town of Moscow, Idaho, and drew national attention. The four students were stabbed to death in an off-campus rental home, leading to widespread grief and fear in the community.

The actual perpetrator, Bryan Kohberger, a criminology doctoral student from nearby Washington State University, was later arrested, pleaded guilty, and is currently serving four consecutive life sentences in an Idaho state prison.

In June 2024, Chief U.S. Magistrate Judge Raymond Patricco had already determined that Guillard’s statements were legally defamatory, leaving only the question of monetary damages for the jury to decide. The jury deliberated for less than two hours before returning their substantial verdict.

“I want to thank the jury for their time and attention to this case,” Scofield said in a statement following the verdict. “The judge had already ruled as a matter of law that the statements were false. The $10 million verdict reinforces the judge’s decision and sends the clear message that false statements online have consequences in the real world for real people and are unacceptable in our community.”

Court documents revealed that Guillard began posting videos in late November 2022, claiming Scofield had secretly been involved with one of the murdered students and had “ordered” the killings. The lawsuit emphasized that Scofield had never met any of the victims and was out of state when the murders occurred.

Despite receiving cease-and-desist letters and public statements from police indicating Scofield had no connection to the crime, Guillard continued publishing the accusations, according to the lawsuit.

During the damages trial, Scofield testified about the emotional toll of having her name falsely associated with the murders. Her legal team argued that the false statements amounted to defamation because they accused her of criminal conduct and professional misconduct that could seriously damage her academic career.

The case highlights the growing problem of misinformation on social media platforms and its potential real-world consequences for individuals who become targets of false allegations. As social media influencers gain larger followings, their statements can quickly reach millions, potentially causing significant harm to those they wrongfully accuse.

Guillard, who represented herself in court, maintained throughout the proceedings that her statements were expressions of belief tied to tarot card readings. It remains unclear whether she intends to appeal the verdict.

“The murders of the four students on November 13, 2022, was the darkest chapter in our university’s history,” Scofield noted in her statement. “Today’s decision shows that respect and care should always be granted to victims during these tragedies. I am hopeful that this difficult chapter in my life is over, and I can return to a more normal life with my family and the wonderful Moscow community.”

Legal experts note that this substantial verdict could serve as a warning to content creators about the serious financial consequences of spreading unfounded accusations online, particularly when they involve tragic events like the Idaho murders that garnered intense public interest and scrutiny.