Tarot Influencer Ordered to Pay Millions After False Accusations in Idaho Murders Case

03 March 2026

In the modern age of social media, voices can travel farther and faster than ever before. Influencers build large audiences by sharing opinions, theories and personal beliefs with followers across platforms. Yet the power of online reach can also carry serious consequences when claims presented as truth cause real harm. A recent legal ruling in the United States has brought that reality sharply into focus after a tarot reading influencer was ordered to pay millions of dollars in damages for falsely accusing a university professor of involvement in a brutal murder case.

The case centers on Ashley Guillard, a Texas based social media personality known for posting videos in which she claimed to interpret tarot cards to gain insight into high profile criminal cases. In late 2022 she began publishing a series of videos about the shocking murders of four University of Idaho students. The crime had drawn widespread national attention after the victims, Kaylee Goncalves, Madison Mogen, Xana Kernodle and Ethan Chapin, were found stabbed to death in an off campus home in Moscow, Idaho.

As investigators searched for answers, Guillard started sharing videos on TikTok claiming that tarot readings had revealed the identity of the person responsible. In those posts she repeatedly accused University of Idaho history professor Rebecca Scofield of orchestrating the killings. The accusations also included claims that Scofield had been involved in a secret romantic relationship with one of the victims, a suggestion that further fueled the allegations circulating online.

The professor had no connection to the murders and had never even met the victims. Police publicly confirmed early in the investigation that Scofield was not a suspect, yet the influencer continued publishing videos repeating the allegations. According to court documents, Scofield sent multiple cease and desist letters demanding the removal of the claims, but the posts continued to circulate and gain views across social media.

Feeling that her reputation and career had been deeply damaged, Scofield filed a defamation lawsuit in December 2022. The legal battle eventually led to a federal court ruling that Guillard’s accusations had no factual basis and were built solely on what the influencer described as spiritual intuition derived from tarot cards. The court determined that such claims did not qualify as protected opinion when they were presented as statements of fact about a real person’s involvement in a violent crime.

A federal jury later considered the damages caused by the accusations and ultimately ordered Guillard to pay a total of ten million dollars to Scofield. The award included 6.5 million dollars related to the false murder allegations and an additional 3.5 million dollars tied to the claim that the professor had been involved in an inappropriate relationship with a student.

During the trial, Scofield described the emotional toll the accusations had taken on her life. She explained that seeing her name associated with a horrific crime caused severe stress and anxiety and threatened her professional reputation as a university professor. The widespread reach of social media meant the allegations traveled far beyond the influencer’s immediate audience, leaving a lasting digital footprint even after they were disproven.

The actual perpetrator of the Idaho murders was later identified as Bryan Kohberger, a criminology graduate student who eventually pleaded guilty to the killings and received multiple life sentences in prison. The resolution of the criminal case further underscored that Scofield had never been connected to the crime in any way.

After the verdict, Scofield expressed relief that the legal process had recognized the harm caused by the accusations. She said the ruling sends an important message that spreading false statements online can have real world consequences. For her, the decision represented an opportunity to move forward after years of distress and public scrutiny.

Guillard, meanwhile, has disputed the outcome and suggested she may pursue an appeal. She has argued that her videos reflected her personal beliefs and spiritual interpretations rather than deliberate attempts to harm another person. The case now stands as a stark example of the legal risks that can arise when online speculation crosses into accusations presented as fact.

Beyond the courtroom, the story reflects a broader tension in the digital age. Social media platforms allow creators to explore mysteries, theories and commentary about real world events, but the speed and scale of online communication can also amplify misinformation. When accusations involve real individuals, the damage can spread quickly and prove difficult to undo.

The ruling against Guillard highlights the growing expectation that creators who speak to large audiences must balance curiosity and commentary with responsibility. In an era where viral posts can shape public perception within hours, the line between speculation and defamation has never been more important.