On 31st of October 2006, 18 year old Nikki Catsouras was involved with an argument with her parents during a meal. She decided to steal her father's Porsche Carrera and go on a joyride whilst under the influence of cocaine. After reaching speeds of over 100mph, Nikki hit a Honda Civic coming from the opposite direction, almost killing the 2 occupants. Losing control, the Porsche Carrera rolled into a concrete toll booth wherupon Nikki's head was smashed open on impact.

Photographs of the scene were leaked -  the Catsouras Family received emails with misleading subject headers that lead to the images of their daughter’s mutilated body. One email said the words “Woohoo Daddy! Hey daddy, I’m still alive.” Of course, when the email was opened, it was nothing but the images of her dead body. Apparently, others found out her father was a real estate agent. One day, he received an email that was created to look like it was from a customer who was interested in purchasing property. However, it was only a trick that when opened, it displayed the bloody images of his daughter.In May of 2011, the California Court of Appeal for the Fourth District ruled that there was no proof that e-mailing the gruesome photographs is covered by the First Amendment. In January of 2012, the California Highway Patrol finally settled with the Catsouras family. They received approximately $2.37 million in damages.Apparently the Catsouros familly went into hiding and took new identities as their efforts to remove the last images of their daughter from the internet failed.