A jury has ordered YouTube personality Ryan Upchurch to pay $17.5 million to the father of Kiely Rodni after finding that his online claims caused severe emotional harm to the grieving family.
False Claims About Teen’s Death
Kiely Rodni disappeared on August 6, 2022, after attending a party at the Prosser Family Campground near Truckee, California. A massive search effort followed before her body was discovered two weeks later inside her submerged SUV.
Authorities later ruled the 16-year-old’s death an accidental drowning and found no evidence of foul play.
Despite those findings, Upchurch allegedly posted videos claiming the tragedy was a hoax created by Kiely’s family to raise money online. According to the lawsuit, he also suggested that Kiely and some relatives were “not real.”
Family Endured Public Harassment
During the search, Kiely’s father, Daniel Rodni, and other relatives spent days searching for the missing teen alongside volunteers and community members.
Volunteer dive group Adventures With Purpose eventually located Kiely’s vehicle underwater near the campground using sonar equipment. The discovery shocked the family and drew nationwide attention.
The lawsuit argued that Upchurch’s videos intensified the family’s trauma during an already devastating period.
Upchurch Issues Statement After Verdict
Following the verdict, Upchurch’s legal team released a statement expressing sympathy for the Rodni family and acknowledging their grief.
The statement also defended free speech rights while saying the family deserves privacy and time to heal after the tragedy.
For more on this story, stay tuned to Que Onda Magazine.