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A TikTok user who claims psychic abilities has been ordered to pay $10 million in damages after making false accusations against a University of Idaho professor concerning a tragic 2022 murder case involving four students.
A federal jury delivered the verdict against social media influencer Ashley Guillard on February 27, concluding that there was enough evidence to show that Guillard had posted a series of misleading TikTok videos. These videos falsely alleged that University of Idaho professor Rebecca Scofield was behind the orchestrating of the murders, as indicated by court documents reviewed by Oxygen.
The jury decided in favor of Scofield, granting her $6.5 million in damages for the baseless murder claims made on social media. Additionally, they awarded another $3.5 million due to false assertions in the videos that suggested the history professor had an inappropriate relationship with a student.
Guillard has expressed her intention to challenge the ruling, as she disclosed to Oxygen.
What Were the Allegations Against Ashley Guillard?
In November 2022, after the shocking discovery of four University of Idaho students murdered in their residence off-campus, Guillard began focusing on the case. She released numerous TikTok videos accusing Scofield, who serves as an associate professor and the chair of the history department, of involvement in the crime and of having an intimate affair with one of the victims, according to the initial complaint shared with Oxygen.
In November 2022, after four University of Idaho students were found brutally murdered inside their off-campus home, Guillard turned her attention to the case, posting many videos on TikTok claiming that Scofield, an associate professor in history and chair of history department, had participated in the crime and had an intimate relationship with one of the victims, according to the initial complaint provided to Oxygen.
“Professor Scofield did not participate in the murders, and she had never met any of the victims, let alone entered a romantic relationship with them,” her attorneys wrote in the documents. “Guillard’s videos have been viewed millions of times, amplifying Guillard’s online persona at the expense of Professor Scofield’s reputation.”
Despite Guillard having no known connection to Scofield—who was out of town with her husband at the time of the murders—Guillard began posting a series of TikTok videos on Nov. 24, 2022 falsely stating that Scofield had “ordered the execution of the four students” and was having a relationship with one of them, according to the compliant.
In the days that followed, Guillard continued to post content falsely claiming that Guillard had a role in the killings, per the complaint, even after the professor sent her a cease and desist letter. The Moscow Police also released a statement in December 2022 stating that they did not believe she was involved in the crimes.
Bryan Kohberger—a phD student in criminology at nearby Washington State University—was ultimately arrested for carrying out the murders of Madison Mogen, Kaylee Goncalves, Xana Kernodle and Ethan Chapin and pleaded guilty to the crimes in July 2025.
A federal judge ruled in 2024 that the statements Guillard made in the videos had been defamatory.
Jury Awards $10 Million Verdict to Rebecca Scofield
In February, during the federal trial jurors heard testimony about the impact online accusations can have on a person’s professional career and long-term earning potential, according to Idaho 6 News.
After considering all the evidence, the jury sided with Scofield, awarding her $10 million in damages.
“I want to thank the jury for their time and attention to this case. The judge had already ruled as a matter of law that the statements were false,” Scofield said after the verdict in a statement provided to Oxygen. “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.”
She said the decision will also allow the community to turn their focus back to the victims who lost their lives as the result of Kohberger’s actions that day.
“The murders of the four students on November 13, 2022, was the darkest chapter in our university’s history,” she continued. “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.”
Ashley Guillard told Oxygen that she plans to appeal the decision.
“The 10 million dollar verdict represents the bias, Ignorance and laziness of the jury. It does not represent the evidence presented at trial,” she said in an emailed statement. “Unfortunately because of the incompetence of the jury I intend to file motions and an appeal to get to a reasonable resolution that is based on the evidence and not bias.”
Guillard also addressed the decision in a 21-part series of TikToks in which she called it “unfair and ridiculous.”