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University of Idaho history professor and chair of the history department, Rebecca Scofield has filed a defamation lawsuit against TikToker Ashley Guillard of Ashley Solves Mysteries.

The self-described cyber-detective tarot reader has been accusing the professor of involvement in last month’s murder of 4 students in Moscow, Idaho. 

Four students Kaylee Goncalves, Madison Mogen, Xana Kernodle, and Ethan Chapin were stabbed to death on Nov. 13. 

Scofield went to work at the university in 2016. And she accepted the department chair position last year.

Guillard has posted repeatedly that Scofield, was responsible for the murders. And that the professor “had been involved in a relationship with one of the murdered students, K.G. [Kaylee Goncalves].” She has also made posts that the professor partnered with Kaylee Goncalves's ex-boyfriend to commit the murders.

The lawsuit claims that the TikTok account @ashleyisinthebookoflife, "decided to use the community's pain for her online self-promotion" after four University of Idaho students were brutally murdered.

The lawsuit, filed Wednesday, points out that many of Guillard’s videos posted on the platform make false statements in an attempt to tie the professor to the killings. And requests a trial by jury.

The lawsuit also asks for compensatory and punitive damages "of an amount to be proved at trial. 

Defamation lawsuit alleges false statements

Wendy J. Olsen, Scofield’s attorney made a statement that “The statements made about Professor Scofield are false, plain and simple. What’s even worse is that these untrue statements create safety issues for the Professor and her family.”

“They also further compound the trauma that the families of the victims are experiencing and undermine law enforcement efforts to find the people responsible to provide answers to the families and the public,” said the attorney statement.

 “Professor Scofield twice sent cease and desist letters to Ms. Guillard, but Ms. Guillard has continued to make false statements, knowing they are false.”

“Thus, this lawsuit became necessary to protect Professor Scofield’s safety and her reputation.”

According to the lawsuit, “On or about November 28, 2022, Guillard posted six TikTok videos to her account in which she falsely stated that Professor Scofield, the chair of the history department, was responsible for the four students’ deaths.” 

“Two of the TikToks directly and falsely state that Professor Scofield ordered the execution of the four students. Three of the TikToks either falsely implied or directly stated that Professor Scofield had been involved in a relationship with one of the murdered students, K.G.”

The lawsuit states that Scofield was out-of-town in Portland visiting friends at the time of the killings. She never taught or met any of the victims.  And she did not know the Texas-based TikToker either.

“She fears for her life and the lives of her family members,” the complaint states. “She has incurred costs, including costs to install a security system and security cameras at her residence. She fears that Guillard’s false statements may motivate someone to cause harm to her or her family members.”

TikTok defiant

Guillard posted a video Friday claiming “I am not stopping.” And she was wondering why Scofield needed three lawyers to sue her “if she’s so innocent.” 

Since the professor first requested, she “cease” the Scofield postings, Guillard has only become more defiant. 

She has been calling the professor “Killer Rebecca.”  She claims the lawsuit is “measly.” And claims to be excited to “present my ideas in court.”

She told The Post that she isn’t worried about being sued, that “time will tell and I’m willing to take the risk.” She has not hired an attorney.

 “If in the alternate universe, if I was wrong, this is an open and shut case. I did say she ordered the execution of the four University of Idaho students. I’m still posting. I’ve said a lot of things about her. I’m not going to stop. If I’m such a liar, I’m so wrong about it, then in court, she will win,” she added.