Professor Files Defamation Lawsuit Against TikToker Over False Idaho Murder Accusations

Federal jurors are currently deliberating the financial damages owed to University of Idaho professor Rebecca Scofield, who successfully sued TikTok content creator Ashley Guillard for defamation over false claims related to the 2022 University of Idaho murders.

Scofield’s lawsuit centered on a series of viral TikTok videos in which Guillard falsely accused the professor of participating in the murders of four University of Idaho students. Guillard also claimed Scofield had been romantically involved with one of the victims, allegations that Scofield maintained were entirely fabricated and deeply harmful.

The case stems from the November 13, 2022 killings that shocked the small college town of Moscow, Idaho. That morning, Bryan Kohberger, 31, broke into a home shared by college students and fatally stabbed Madison “Maddie” Mogen and Kaylee Goncalves, both 21, along with Xana Kernodle and Ethan Chapin, both 20. Kohberger pleaded guilty to the murders last summer and received four life sentences.

In court testimony reported by the Idaho Statesman, Scofield, 40, described the profound impact Guillard’s false allegations had on her life and career. Despite receiving cease-and-desist letters from Scofield’s attorneys, Guillard continued producing videos that garnered millions of views across social media platforms.

“It was like a stone on my chest that was not crushing me, it was dissolving me,” Scofield testified, struggling to contain her emotions. “I was unraveling underneath the weight of it.”

The professor detailed how the false accusations stripped away her anonymity and sense of security, leading to severe grief and depression that manifested physically as chronic headaches and nerve damage throughout her body.

During the penalty phase of the trial, expert witnesses explained to jurors how viral online accusations—even when completely fabricated—can devastate someone’s professional reputation, impact hiring decisions, and significantly reduce long-term earning potential. For academics like Scofield, whose careers depend on credibility and reputation within their field, such damage can be particularly severe.

Guillard, 41, who represented herself during the proceedings, defended her accusations with an unusual claim. She testified that her allegations weren’t based on factual evidence but rather on her self-proclaimed clairvoyant abilities. “We work with intuition, not facts,” Guillard told the court. “The facts are the job of law enforcement, not a psychic.”

In an attempt to counter Scofield’s claims of emotional and physical distress, Guillard tried to attribute the professor’s health issues to a total hysterectomy Scofield had undergone weeks after the murders. However, Scofield testified that she had fully recovered from that surgery, and that medical professionals, including her therapist, had linked her ongoing physical challenges directly to the emotional trauma caused by Guillard’s false allegations.

The case highlights the increasingly complex intersection of social media, personal reputation, and legal accountability in the digital age. With platforms like TikTok enabling content creators to reach millions of viewers almost instantly, the potential for defamatory content to cause real-world harm has grown exponentially.

The court barred cameras from recording the proceedings, maintaining privacy for all parties involved.

Meanwhile, Kohberger, the actual perpetrator of the murders, has reportedly struggled with prison life at the Idaho Maximum Security Institution. According to documents obtained by People magazine, he has filed complaints about being taunted and threatened by other inmates. The convicted killer, a strict vegan, has also formally complained about food issues, including missing items from his meal trays and the quality of fruit, particularly bananas, served at the facility.

The jury’s decision on damages in the Scofield-Guillard case is expected soon.