A University of Idaho professor, Rebecca Scofield, was awarded a $10 million judgment after a TikTok influencer falsely accused her of being involved in the quadruple slayings of four college students. The Texas TikToker, Ashley Guillard, was ordered by a Boise jury in US District Court to pay the hefty sum after spreading baseless claims about Scofield’s alleged connection to the murders.
Guillard’s videos, which garnered millions of views, accused Scofield of having a secret relationship with one of the victims and orchestrating the killings. Despite Scofield never having met the victims and being out of state when the murders occurred, Guillard continued to make defamatory statements even after being served with cease-and-desist letters and after police confirmed Scofield’s innocence.
Following the verdict, Scofield expressed her gratitude to the jury and emphasized the importance of understanding that false statements online can have real-world consequences. She hoped that the case would serve as a warning to others who engage in spreading misinformation.
The murders of the four students in November 2022 were a tragic event in the University of Idaho’s history, and Scofield’s legal victory has brought a sense of closure to this difficult chapter in her life. She now looks forward to returning to a more normal life with her family and the Moscow community.
The jury awarded Scofield $7.5 million in punitive damages and $2.5 million in compensatory damages, holding Guillard accountable for her defamatory actions. This case highlights the repercussions of spreading false information online and the need for accountability in the digital age.
