As a Law and Justice major, I have a huge interest in true crime. Some of my favorite videos on YouTube to listen to when going about my day are commentaries reporting on different cases. Most recently, these videos may have to do with cases such as the new Kacey Anothony documentary (which by the way, is horrendous and offensive, but that’s just my opinion) or even old cases such as the Black Dahlia murder. Despite enjoying this type of content, I have a huge problem with some people, especially on TikTok, violating the privacy and requests of victims’ families.
Recently, I’ve seen too many videos on the platform detailing either false news or blatantly disrespectful topics about certain cases. One such account comes to mind where a self-proclaimed psychic describes how she’s solved the University of Idaho murder case.
The case in which 4 U of I students were murdered in their own homes has taken the media by storm for a couple of reasons: the utter shock surrounding the case and how little the authorities have released about the events. Now, in this case, any sane person would do their best to respect the privacy of the victim’s families, right? Well, TikTok had other ideas.
A user by the name of Ashley Guillard (@ashleyisinthebookoflife on TikTok) has claimed to have solved the murder, pinning a university professor, Rebecca Scofield, as the culprit. There is no basis of proof or even knowing the facts of the case in this situation, instead, Guillard cites a Tarot Card reading as her proof. In addition to her claims, she also states that one of the students murdered had previously had a romantic relationship with Schofield. In response to these claims, Rebecca Schfoeld is now suing for Defamation of Character.
As. She. Should.
Now I’m not here to say that people who believe in tarot card readings or in spiritual influences are crazy, hell I have quite the collection of crystals myself. However, in the case of an OPEN MURDER INVESTIGATION, claims like this with absolutely no sliver of truth should not be taken lightly. On a platform such as TikTok, false news spreads so quickly. Luckily while looking at the comments I realized it seems like no one takes her seriously with these claims, but it is still damaging and disgusting in regard to the victim’s loved ones. Not to mention the fact that this past week an arrest was made. Bryan Kohberger, a 28-year-old Ph.D. student, was arrested on December 30 for the murder of the 4 students.
I had the same problem with the Dahmer series not asking the families before portraying real events that happened in their very real lives on a television show that, by the way, still got many things wrong for the sake of a compelling story.
Things like this have really made me reevaluate my love for true crime. How many of these cases are still hugely triggering to the people involved? Is all of this information true? Or am I just as bad as the people who have a saved folder of Evan Peters portraying an evil person titled something along the lines of “Daddy Dahmer (insert flame emojis here)?”
Know what, nothing is worse than that.