At the end of 2022, USA was moved by the murders of four students from the University of Idaho.
Since then, the tarotist and content creator Ashley Guillard, that today has 41 years old, accused for the fact Rebecca Scofield, teacher of History of said institution.
However, a short time later, the real person responsible was arrested and later claimed to have committed the crimes. Therefore, and after the victim’s lawsuit, a jury forced Guillard to pay a high number as reparation.
A moving case and an accusation of «spiritual intuition»
Kaylee Goncalves, Madison Mogen, Xana Kernodle, Bethany Funke and Dylan Mortensen, all in their 20s, They were students at the University of Idaho and lived together in a house located in Moscow, just 10 minutes from the academic institution.
It was early morning November 13, 2022, and they were in the home with Ethan Chapin, another student of the same age, who was Kernodle’s boyfriend.
Suddenly, a masked person entered the residence and, for no express reason, He stabbed Goncalves, Mogen, Kernodle and Chapin to death, while Funke and Mortensen managed to survive.
Once the event was known, the university community and a large part of American society felt distressed, while the authorities began a desperate search for those responsible.
Perhaps overcome by this sensation, just days after the event, Ashley Guillard, known on the web for theorize about high-profile unsolved murdersoften consulting letters from the tarot, started blaming Rebecca Scofielda University History professor, to plan and order the crime.
Through TikTok, claimed that Scofield had been romantically involved with Mogenone of the four victims, and who had ordered the murder when the student threatened to expose the relationship. In addition, Guillard published a photo and the teacher’s personal information on the website.
As expected, in December 2022, the teacherwho didn’t even teach the deceased boys, filed a defamation lawsuit against the content creator.
Afterwards, the Moscow Police Department issued a press release clarifying that Scofield was not a suspect in the murder investigation, but Guillard’s accusations on social media did not stop.
On December 30, police authorities arrested Bryan Christopher Kohberger, 28 years old, who was the real responsible for the crimes.
Despite this, the tarot reader continued reproducing her version of events.
Finally, in June 2024, Raymond Patricco, the federal judge of the United States District Court for the District of Idaho, ruled that the statements de Guillard eran defamatory and they were based “only” on their “spiritual intuition about the murders.”
The details of the court ruling: «False statements are unacceptable in our community»
In July 2025, Kohberger, who was also a student at Washington State University in Pullman, pleaded guilty to the murders, as part of a deal to avoid the death penalty, and was sentenced to four life sentences.
After that, Guillard’s judicial situation became even more complicated, until, at the end February 2026was brought to trial.
In it, Guillard did not have lawyers, but represented herself, and did not call witnesses either.
During the course of the hearing, which lasted 4 days, he told the judges that he believed he had psychic abilities and that learned to read tarot through YouTube videosnumerology and self-taught study.
In addition, she justified the publication of her videos on networks, because according to her it was a way to raise awareness among the population and urge the authorities to investigate possible clues.
Regarding the murders of the students, he acknowledged that he had recorded more than 100 videos about the case until August 2025, when Kohberger had already pleaded guilty.
Scofieldfor her part, stated that the accusations had caused her a lot of anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder and nerve pain throughout her body, which made it difficult for her to carry out her position as director of the History department at the University of Idaho.
She also added that, due to the situation, both she and her family had isolated themselves from society, and that, out of fear of being judged, she had even wanted to attend a vigil for the victims.
“There was a moment when I felt like I had lost ownership of my face and my name, and that they were no longer sewn to my body,” the professor told jurors, adding: ““It was totally terrifying.”
Likewise, from the stand, he took the opportunity to address Guillard herself. «You told lies to a camera, about me and my husband. You were making dozens of videos about me: someone you never met, someone you never talked to, someone you had no connection with,» she exclaimed.
After the allegations, On Friday, February 27, the federal jury sentenced Guillard to pay 10 million dollars to the professor, as compensation for the damages caused.
In detail, 6.5 of those millions correspond to damages for accusations related to the murders at the University of Idaho, while the remaining 3.5 were charged for false statements about Scofield’s inappropriate relationship with the student.
After the ruling, the teacher gave her opinion on the matter before People. “The $10 million verdict reinforces the judge’s decision and sends a clear message: False statements online have real consequences for real people and are unacceptable in our community,” he said.
«The murder of the four students on November 13, 2022 was the darkest chapter in the history of our university. Today’s decision demonstrates that respect and care should always be given to the victims during these tragedies,» he added.
Guillardfor his part, published more than 20 videos on TikTok, in which question the verdict calling it «unfair and ridiculous.» In addition, according to what he told the American magazine, he is considering appeal the judicial decision.
