TikTok Psychic Ordered To Pay 10 Million For Falsely Accusing Professor Of Murder

A federal jury just handed Ashley Guillard, the TikTok tarot card reader who built a massive following off her so called psychic readings, a 10 million dollar verdict after she spent months falsely accusing a university professor of orchestrating a quadruple murder. The case sent shockwaves through the true crime community and raised serious questions about the dangers of viral misinformation on social media.

The False Accusations That Started It All

Guillard, who amassed hundreds of thousands of followers on TikTok with her tarot readings, began posting videos in late 2022 claiming that Rebecca Scofield, a history professor at the University of Idaho, was the real mastermind behind the brutal murders of four students in Moscow, Idaho. The accusation was based entirely on her tarot card interpretations. No evidence. No sources. Just cards and conviction.

The videos racked up millions of views as true crime fans latched onto the theory. Scofield had absolutely no connection to the case, but that did not stop the internet from running with it. The professor received death threats, was harassed online, and watched her professional reputation take a devastating hit, all because a woman on TikTok flipped some cards and pointed a finger.

The Real Killer Was Already Caught

Bryan Kohberger, a criminology graduate student, was arrested and later convicted for the actual murders of Kaylee Goncalves, Madison Mogen, Xana Kernodle, and Ethan Chapin. The case was solved through DNA evidence and cell phone data, not tarot cards. But even after Kohberger was identified, Guillard reportedly doubled down on her claims, continuing to post videos insisting Scofield was involved.

Scofield took the stand during the defamation trial and described years of living in fear. She testified about the emotional damage, the toll on her mental health, and a career that was nearly destroyed because of baseless accusations from a stranger on the internet. According to court documents, Scofield said she could not walk across campus without looking over her shoulder.

The Verdict Came Fast

Guillard represented herself in court, arguing that her tarot videos were protected spiritual beliefs under the First Amendment. The jury of four women and three men was not buying it. They came back with a unanimous verdict in under two hours, awarding Scofield the full 10 million dollars in damages.

According to NBC News, legal experts noted that the case could set a precedent for holding social media creators accountable for defamatory content disguised as entertainment or spiritual practice. The speed of the verdict suggested the jury saw through the defense immediately.

The Internet Had One Big Question

Social media erupted after the verdict was announced. As one widely shared reaction put it, if she really sees the future, how did she not see that coming. Fans and critics alike pointed out the irony of a self proclaimed psychic being blindsided by a lawsuit that had been building for months.

The case has reignited the debate about accountability on platforms like TikTok, where creators can build massive audiences spreading unverified claims with zero consequences, until now. Guillard has not publicly commented on the verdict at the time of this publication.