World · North America · 2 hrs ago
Idaho professor describes fear after false online murder accusations
Rebecca Scofield, a University of Idaho history professor, says she was falsely accused online of killing four students in 2022.
The students were Kaylee Goncalves, Madison Mogen, Xana Kernodle and Ethan Chapin, who were murdered in November.
A TikTok tarot reader named Ashley Guillard claimed Scofield ordered the killings to hide an alleged relationship with one of the victims.
Scofield says the videos brought threatening messages and left her frightened, sleepless and isolated from the university community.
The actual killer, former graduate student Bryan Kohberger, pleaded guilty and was sentenced to life in prison, according to the article.
Scofield sued Guillard for defamation, and Guillard was ordered to pay her $10 million in March.
The article does not say what happens next in the case.
University of Idaho history professor Rebecca Scofield says she was frightened and lost sleep after a TikTok user falsely accused her of involvement in the 2022 murders of four students.
The accusations were posted by Texas-based TikTok creator Ashley Guillard, who claimed Scofield had ordered the killings to conceal an alleged affair.
Scofield said she received disturbing and threatening messages, moved her course online and avoided campus and social media.
She sued Guillard for defamation in December 2022, and Guillard was ordered to pay Scofield $10 million in March.
Bryan Kohberger pleaded guilty to the killings and was sentenced to life in prison, according to the article.
- Who
- University of Idaho professor Rebecca Scofield and TikTok creator Ashley Guillard.
- What
- Guillard falsely accused Scofield of involvement in the murders of four students. Scofield said the accusations caused fear and isolation and sued for defamation.
- When
- The accusations began in 2022, with a defamation suit filed in December 2022. Guillard was ordered to pay $10 million in March; the year is not stated.
- Where
- The University of Idaho community in Idaho; Guillard was based in Texas.
- Why
- Guillard claimed Scofield ordered the killings to prevent an alleged affair with one of the victims from becoming public.
Rebecca Scofield
Ashley Guillard
Accusations
Rebecca Scofield
Scofield said she was innocent and did not know the victims.
Ashley Guillard
Guillard claimed Scofield ordered the killings to cover up an alleged romantic relationship with one victim.
Legal dispute
Rebecca Scofield
Scofield sued Guillard for defamation.
Ashley Guillard
Guillard said Scofield would “regret” filing the suit and later accused jurors of bias.
Four University of Idaho students were murdered.
Guillard posted an accusation against Scofield, according to the article.
Scofield filed a defamation suit against Guillard.
Guillard was ordered to pay Scofield $10 million; the article does not state the year.
- Accused professor
- Rebecca Scofield, chair of the University of Idaho Department of History
- Accuser
- Ashley Guillard, a 41-year-old TikTok creator in Texas
- Victims
- Kaylee Goncalves, Madison Mogen, Xana Kernodle and Ethan Chapin
- Murders
- November 13, 2022
- Defamation suit
- Filed in December 2022
- Award
- $10 million, ordered in March
What people are saying
I was overwhelmed with calls, messages, comments and emails, many of which were disturbing or threatening,
I stopped sleeping well, and instead, I walked the hallway outside my children's rooms, utterly terrified that they would be harmed by the person hyper fixated on me, any of her believers or the person actually responsible for the murders,
regret
Sources
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