A Nashville-based YouTuber is facing a $17.5 million defamation verdict after a federal jury sided with the family of a California teenager whose death became the subject of viral conspiracy content online.
The lawsuit was brought by Daniel Rodni and David Robertson, the father and grandfather of 16-year-old Kiely Rodni, who vanished in August 2022 after attending a party near Tahoe National Forest. Her body was later recovered inside her SUV submerged in a nearby lake. Investigators ruled the death accidental and found no evidence of foul play.
The family filed suit in Nashville federal court in 2023 against YouTuber Ryan Upchurch, citing a video he published titled “ZERO proof of Kiely Rodni situation being REAL.” In that video, Upchurch alleged the case was fabricated and accused the family of using a GoFundMe campaign as part of a financial scam. Attorneys for the Rodni family argued the video spread dangerous falsehoods at a moment when the family was already devastated by loss, causing lasting damage to their reputations and serious emotional harm.
The case drew broader attention for the questions it raised about the true crime content community and where the legal line falls between personal opinion and actionable defamation. The jury ultimately found that Upchurch crossed that line, returning a verdict of $17.5 million in the family’s favor.
The case is not yet fully resolved. According to attorneys, proceedings have now moved into the punitive damages phase, meaning additional financial penalties could still be added to the existing award.
Following the verdict, Upchurch’s legal team released a statement invoking his commitment to free speech principles, while also offering condolences to the Rodni family. The statement read in part that Upchurch “can be that advocate and also feel sympathy for a family in their time of grief,” and called on the public to allow the family space to heal. On the verdict itself, the statement noted that Upchurch had no comment at this time.