MOSCOW — A federal judge ruled earlier this month that accusations made by a TikTok personality against a University of Idaho professor were defamatory.

Professor Rebecca Scofield’s attorney Wendy Olson told the Daily News on Thursday they will seek punitive damages from Ashley Guillard in a trial at an undetermined date.

Guillard accused Scofield of orchestrating the murders of UI students Xana Kernodle, Ethan Chapin, Kaylee Goncalves and Madison Mogen in November 2022 to cover up having a romantic relationship with one of the victims. Guillard made these claims on TikTok and YouTube following news of the murders, according to past reporting.

Scofield’s attorneys filed a federal defamation lawsuit against Texas resident Guillard in December 2022 after sending Guillard cease-and-desist letters.

On June 6, U.S. Magistrate Judge Raymond Patricco wrote in his order there was no objective basis to believe the accusations. He said Scofield proved the accusations were “oppressive, fraudulent, malicious, and/or outrageous.”

Guillard used tarot readings and relied on “spiritual intuition” to make her claims against Scofield, according to Patricco’s order.

“By repeatedly accusing Plaintiff of an affair with a student and then ordering the murder of four students to cover up the affair, Defendant communicated information to others that was Defamatory,” he wrote.

Patricco granted Scofield’s motion for partial summary judgment based on liability and granted her motion to amend her complaint to add punitive damages.

Olson said this means Guillard has been found liable and now it is up to a jury to decide what damages are owed to Scofield.

Scofield is an associate professor and chairperson of the UI Department of History.

Bryan Kohberger was arrested in December 2022 in connection to the Moscow murders and remains in Latah County Jail.

Kuipers can be reached at akuipers@dnews.com.