What This Story Is About
- A Nashville YouTuber has been hit with a nearly $20 million verdict in a defamation case over a true crime video.
Why It Matters
- The family of the victim said the videos spread false claims during a time of intense grief and caused damage to the family’s reputation and emotional distress.
- The case is now in the punitive damages phase, according to an attorney.
NASHVILLE, TN (WSMV) – A defamation trial involving a Nashville YouTuber and a viral true crime video has ended with a $17.5 million verdict.
The lawsuit was filed against YouTuber Ryan Upchurch by relatives of Kiely Rodni, a 16-year-old California girl who disappeared in August 2022 after attending a party near Tahoe National Forest.
Her body was later found inside her SUV in a nearby lake. Authorities ruled her death an accident and said there was no evidence of foul play…