TikTok Psychic Found Liable for Defamation in University of Idaho Murder Case
A self-proclaimed psychic TikToker who used her platform to falsely accuse a University of Idaho professor of orchestrating the notorious 2022 murders of four students has been found guilty of defamation and now faces substantial financial penalties. Ashley Guillard, a 41-year-old resident of Houston, published more than one hundred videos in the immediate aftermath of the killings, which were actually committed by Bryan Kohberger.
False Accusations and Baseless Claims
In her extensive series of TikTok posts, Guillard repeatedly framed Rebecca Scofield, the 40-year-old head of the university's history department, as the mastermind behind the brutal slayings. She alleged that Scofield ordered the murders to prevent an affair she had with one of the victims, 21-year-old Kaylee Goncalves, from becoming public knowledge. Two of the videos explicitly stated that Scofield had ordered Goncalves's execution, despite the academic being entirely innocent of any wrongdoing.
Guillard further maintained that the hit also targeted Goncalves's two roommates, Madison Mogen and Xana Kernodle, as well as Kernodle's boyfriend, Ethan Chapin. These defamatory claims continued to circulate online even as Kohberger initially evaded law enforcement capture.
Legal Proceedings and Emotional Testimony
The situation escalated with a series of cease-and-desist letters, culminating in a defamation lawsuit filed in December 2022. While Kohberger was subsequently arrested in Pennsylvania, confessed to the crimes, and received four consecutive life sentences last year, the civil case against Guillard proceeded separately. In June, a judge found Guillard liable for defamation, and a trial to determine punitive damages is currently underway, with Scofield seeking more than $1.8 million in compensation.
During emotional testimony before federal judge Raymond E. Patricco, Scofield described the profound impact of the false accusations. "It was like a stone on my chest that was not crushing me, it was dissolving me," she told the court while visibly choked up. "I was unraveling underneath the weight of it." Scofield added that she and her family felt personally targeted, stating, "It felt like our children's lives were directly threatened - that my name was being thrown around by you saying horrific accusations that were fully baseless."
Defendant's Defense and Ongoing Trial
Guillard, who represented herself during the proceedings, attempted unsuccessfully to have the lawsuit dismissed. On the stand, she defended her actions by stating, "Claircognizance - we work with intuition, not fact. The facts are the job of law enforcement, not a psychic." In a video posted to her TikTok account just days before the trial resumed, Guillard appeared to show herself boarding a plane to attend the proceedings, captioning it "3 days."
The trial resumed on Wednesday morning before a twelve-person jury, with damages yet to be determined as of Wednesday afternoon. Scofield's attorneys have detailed the significant costs incurred due to Guillard's false claims, including the installation of a security system and cameras at her residence in Moscow, Idaho, near where the students were killed. They are also seeking reimbursement for all reasonable attorney's fees and costs permitted under federal and state law.
This case highlights the serious consequences of spreading false information on social media platforms, particularly when it involves grave accusations against innocent individuals during high-profile criminal investigations.
