Nikki Catsouras Crime Scene Photos Haunt Deceased Teen's Family

May 05, 2009

A tragic event that occurred nearly three years ago continues to disturb a family in Orange County, Calif. Despite every effort, they are unable to move past the tragedy because the Internet will not allow them to reach closure. Actually, the World Wide Web itself is not to blame as much as the morbid and insensitive individuals who hide on its darker side.

The events surrounding this story began to unfold on October 31, 2006. On that day, 18-year-old Nikki Catsouras (photo here) fatefully grabbed the keys to her father's Porsche 911 Carrera and walked out the front door of her parents' home. Nikki had been forbidden to drive the sports car, and her judgment on that day will forever remain in question.

As a child, Nikki was diagnosed with a brain tumor. Tests showed the growth to be benign; however, she still had to endure radiation treatment which, doctors warned, could cause her to have difficulty with impulse control - issues which may have contributed to the cocaine-induced psychosis that she suffered in 2005. Despite her hospital stay after that incident, Nikki again experimented with cocaine in October 2006. In response, her parents scheduled an appointment with a brain disorder specialist. Unfortunately, Nikki never made the appointment.

It will never be known whether the accident was the result of teen disobedience or a lack of judgment caused by her brain disorder. Regardless of the reason, Nikki got behind the wheel of her father's car and backed it out of the family's garage. Nikki's mother, Lesli Catsouras, heard the commotion outside and ran out, only to see her daughter speeding down the road. Lesli immediately phoned her husband, Christos, who called 911. During the call, the dispatcher informed him that a black Porsche had been involved in an accident on the 241 toll road in Lake Forest. Christos' heart immediately sank to the pit of his stomach.

According to police, Nikki was traveling at approximately 100 mph when she lost control of the car. She hit a Honda driven by a lone man before tumbling over the median and slamming into a concrete toll booth. The accident was so severe that Nikki was nearly decapitated upon impact (those photos will not be shown here). Her remains were in such a horrific state that the coroner would not allow her family to view her body.

The driver of the Honda was transferred to a hospital with minor injuries. He seeks to recover damages in a pending lawsuit against the Catsouras family.

As tragic as Nikki's death was, it was only the beginning of a long road of suffering that her family would have to endure.

In the weeks that followed the accident, Christos received an e-mail that he assumed was related to his real estate business. However, when he opened it, he was confronted by a gruesome crime scene photo of his daughter and a caption that read, "Whoohoo Daddy! Hey Daddy, I'm still alive."

That e-mail set the stage for a wave of harassment which has targeted each member of Nikki's family. In addition, one particularly sick individual took the time to set up a fake MySpace page in Nikki's name in order to poke fun at her death. Within the comment section, one visitor wrote, "What a waste of a Porsche," while another comment read, "That spoiled rich girl deserved it."

The release of the nine crime scene photos was traced to two California Highway Patrol dispatchers - Thomas O'Donnell, 39, and Aaron Reich, 30. In response, the CHP sent a letter of apology to the family and suspended O'Donnell for 25 days without pay. According to newsweek.com, Reich quit his job for unrelated reasons.

The crime scene photos have since gone viral and can be found on thousands of Web sites. Despite the family's best efforts, they have been unable to have them removed from the Internet. With little remaining recourse, they filed a lawsuit against the CHP for negligence, privacy invasion and infliction of emotional harm.

In March 2008, the Catsouras' case was dismissed by a superior court judge who ruled that rights of privacy do not extend to the dead. The court response to the family's appeal is expected on June 1.

In the wake of the case's recent media coverage, Russian cyber criminals attempted to exploit the situation by registering a domain name to distribute malware under the disguise of a "video" of the crime scene. According to trendmicro.com, the site in question has been optimized to appear as the first result in Internet searches for "Nikki Catsouras." The malware contains several variants of worms and viruses. Perhaps the site is actually doing the family a favor by luring those who wish to view the video. After doing so, they will surf away with a PC full of computer viruses.

Meanwhile, Nikki's parents and siblings have all enrolled in therapy so that they might eventually be able to come to terms with the situation or at least begin travelling the road to closure.

Morbid curiosity is one thing, but to turn Nikki Catsouras' death into a twisted Internet phenomenon is another. The incredible cruelty that the Catsouras family has suffered as a result of this chain of events is inexcusable. The individuals who are responsible should be charged with harassment. Their lack of empathy leaves me utterly speechless.

Photo Credits: California Highway Patrol

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Comments

[Aquaneeshaah]

thats soooooo sad it made me cringe!!!!!!

[karamaniolas]

I just want to say that people need to leave this family alone. they need to mourn the death of their little girl and no one knows what happened. nikki was not drinking but the other driver was and no one investigated him or did a BAC. Have respect for the dead and let the family mourn this in privacy. anyone who is doing this is rude what if it was your sister or mother or child??? would you like someone to do this to your family?? i know i would not. The Catsouras Family I send you my condolences and my prayers

[James]

Kara,

There are some facts regarding Nikki's state that Mr. Lohr respectfully left out of this article. To remind us that we don't have all the facts but then suggest the other driver may have been intoxicated demonstrates your point.

This is a tragic accident and a terrible loss for Nikki's family. I hope the worm takes it's toll on users who look for these pictures.

Perhaps we as a society can start exposing the underbelly of the internet as socially unacceptable. There is no reason for this material to be out there, and those who wish to view it should be admonished by the majority of society.
Perhaps then the anonimity of the internet will no longer provide a shroud for what would be considered socially unacceptable behavior in any other context.

God bless Nikki and her family.

[Susan]

I know how horrific this is - -but KIDS who are of driving age NEED TO SEE what happens. Like I did, they feel invinsible. I never got a clue unitl I became a Paramedic--and I saw what REALLY happens when cars crash. THEN--and only then did I GET IT! EDU-CATE these young drivers-before you get the phone call from the Police-it is too late then!

[2 boys mom in NC]

I have seen this photo. At the time, I can't say I had ever heard of this girl or the accident. It has been a year or more since I came upon it. I can assure everyone that it is truly, truly gruesome! I guess I (stupidly)thought that it was someone with no family or at least their name would never be published but to have these photos sent to the family and for public viewing on the web! Oh, my, dear Lord! Makes me feel awful because I have seen them. Thanks for the insightful article.

[Pamela]

The argument that people need to see what happens with reckless driving simply doesn't work because the family did not give consent. What these officers did was beyond offensive and irresponsible. This is a child who died in this accident and it is the parents decision whether these photos should be released.

As the parent of a teenage daughter myself, I would be horrified if images of my daughter were spread like this. This isn't about fault with the accident, it's about privacy.

[James]

Susan,

I attended a high school where an air-medic came and discussed some of the accident scenes she had been on. You have a difficult job, and you are correct in that pictures of wreckage can assist in educating young drivers.

However the pictures can show the wreckage, medical equipment, setbelts, airbages, and twisted metal without identifying the victims or subsequently their families. I have seen photographs of med flight helicopters after transporting victims to the hospital that are equally effective than seeing the actual victims.

Just knowing the people did not walk away from the twisted heap of metal shown in the photograph is sufficient to drive home the points of driving safely.

These pictures of Nikki serve very little educational use, and certainly not enough to justify the pain the family has been burdened with.

[Teddie Girl]

While I agree that these photos should have been posted to the Internet as a valuable lesson to us all, I absolutely disagree with using them to torture this girl's family. I also think that her true identity should've remained hidden.

I saw the pictures a while ago, and I wish to God her family had never laid eyes on them. Whoever's harassing this family is going to have a hot date with Karma for this one.

[Valerie]

I agree with James. Even beyond that, when officers and paramedics presented assemblies warning us of the dangers of reckless driving and driving intoxicated, they showed videos with fake scenarios that were so realistically gory I needed to leave the room. There are plenty more effective options to educate young people without ruining a family's life.

Photos of real accident scenes, whether accompanied by the victim's name or not, needn't be on the internet. Even if Nikki had remained anonymous to us in the photos, all who knew her would still know exactly what accident scene that was and would still be haunted by it.

On the internet, everything is fair game for horrendous memes and jokes, and it's best NOT to release crime and accident scene photos, no matter how much you think people need to be "scared" into being more careful.

[D]

So explain to me how the Russian site is "actually doing the family a favor by luring those who wish to view the video." How does the family benefit from random people getting viruses on their PCs?
The only "favor" that could be done for the family is if they could somehow be made to unsee those photos.

[Paul]

I know that some driver education programs used to show a film of real accident scenes, complete with the gruesome injuries suffered by the dead or still living. It was a way to hopefully scare some of these new drivers into being more responsible. If the family of this poor child had agreed to allow her accident photos to be used in some such manner, that would be one thing. I agree with everyone here that the unforgivable harassment of the family is beyond despicable. Reprehensible comments like "the rich b***h deserved it" are so far off the beaten path of humanity that I cannot express my anger, sorrow, or outrage in words. May God be with Nikki and her family.

[JW]

Whether the girl was sick, either mentally or physically, is irrelevant. The family will never see her again and they did not even get to have an open casket at the funeral. I am sure they suffer every day.
I do think that teen drivers need to see the worst pictures from this and know the story. If it saved one life, it would be worth it.

[SB]

This was not a child. She was 18 that is considerd an adult, at least in CA.

[Monica]

Jesus! Those poor parents! How cruel people can be these days - My husband is a paramedic and has seen some really horrific wrecks and we plan to show our children video/pictures of those wrecks (with no pics of the passengers/victims)so that they can see what CAN happen if you are careless/reckless...I don't feel like pictures of the victims are necessary as the condition of the vehicles gives you enough of a clue that the passengers did NOT unfortunately make it out alive. I hope that the disgusting pigs who have tortured this family with those pictures someday gets what they deserve! What I cannot understand is how that superior court judge could rule that rights of privacy do not extend to the dead - I mean what the?? Those officers who released those photos should be ASHAMED of themselves and should be held totally accountable for their actions - they are disgusting!

[hailei suzann]

this story is so sad. when i first heard about it i almost cried. it made me realize how easy it is for a person who has their whole life ahed of them to get it taken away so fast. i do wonder if it wasn't an accident. if it was done on purpose. but i know that most teenagers think they're indistructable but they aren't, and sadly this is an example. <3 hailei

[Stacia]

I want to comment on the dispatchers who released this stuff. I am a dispatcher and there are crystal clear guidelines of behavior for dispatchers! What we do is very difficult work but quite rewarding. I think both of those gentlemen, (using that term losely), should be prosecuted! Instead, one got a 25 day suspension w/o pay? What? What a harsh punishment!! NOT! If he did this, what is he doing or not doing when answering 911 calls. If he can do this, is he really capable of taking care of his officers while on duty or deliver CPR instructions to a caller begging for help because her 4 year old was found in the pool and is not breathing! The other one tucked his tail and ran! These two give dispatchers a bad name! Most of us do our jobs with honor and integrity!

[tellyou1nce]

This is sad. I have seen several comments on news stories about these photos. People have called Nikki horrible names and made fun of the accident. These pictures and comments posted on the internet do not hurt the dead. They hurt the living. When I see posts such as those I can't help but make a mental note "another jealous person that doesn't have a loving family".

[Mrs. Franklin]

Just the site of these photos send chills down my spine, I am a parent and I don't know what I would do if something like that happened to anyone of my children let alone this child. My prayers and my heart goes out to the family. The officer who posted the photos should be ashamed of that if he wa trying to show young people how life can be cut short I can see that but the photo of her almost decapitated head should not have been seen buy anyone. Thats just plain mean. These people should let this family morn in peace.

[Tom]

Well I have to say that I took the bait and did a search for the photos. I probably won't sleep well for a long time. I work hard at forgiving and looking beyond some of the stupid and cruel things that we as "civilized" humans can do. However, when I saw these photos it really sunk in as to just how horrible this family must have felt in receiving them, having their precious, now deceased daughter slandered and this situation plastered all over the internet. My God, what are we as a species becoming. This is such a tragic event.

[CoCo]

UUUHHH.....was there any one else in the car???.....Why?....because those are pics of a dark haired short hair body. No breast. Maybe one pic is Nikki. But that is a red head. Is it me? Or did best gore tamper with those pictures to creat more sensation? I am just saying....was up with the pictures?...real? or tampered?

CoCo

[sage]

i see both sides of this story, the family and the person who wants to see. when people are told that they can't see something because it is too bad for them but the person saying that has seen them then it is natural maybe even morbid but they still want too see. Death is a fact, it happens no matter what, some go quitely, some don't. i pick up the dead i have seen it all. if it bothers you then don't look, but Don't condemn those who want to see or know. this country wants to cover up everything.

[Cathy]

Re: lawsuit for parents. I think it is needed. I tried to place my own children's faces into that picture and I am having a difficult time. Add to this the heartless degradation coming from e-mailers.... I would like to ask America's ....I'm assuming ... teenagers?....the e-mailers who send these heartless messages to the family...why they are doing it. I can't help but to remember the days following Sept. 11...9-1-1...remember how America all pulled together to help and support our mourning fellow citizens? And then I look at the treatment these mourning parents and sisters are receiving...do these messengers have nothing else in their hearts or mind to offer up? Could they take a look into their own souls to see what they have to send out into the world, that's decent instead, from here on in? I ask Christ to Bless the hardened hearts of those who sent an unkind e-mail out and ask that He melts away the pain in their own hearts. Something in there hurts, huh?
Also, I know in criminal cases they can go into computer data and retrieve. Since that judge dismissed the case (being that the CHP cops did not have to preserve their privacy) why can't they retrieve the most painful writings from the citizens sent to the parents and siblings and at least begin with attacking from a "harassment" angle? Isn't part of 'harassment' an inappropriate treatment that one is receiving that others are not receiving?
As well, I do believe that they should get the rights to these photos, the rights to their privacy, and the rights to their daughter's privacy. If not in this case, then let's change it for the future. (We have to sign waivers to allow our underage children's photos be used in our state. Isn't "under 21' and residing at the parents' address a "legal ward" of the parent, living or deceased...and parents have legal rights to speak and sign for these dependants? Some say the deceased have no right to privacy, however, they have wills, etc..that are honored from the deceased. As well, they are the ones that have the right to speak for her, as we would leave that right to our nearest love.)
I hope the family has the strength to continue to fight as I think they should win the rights to change any laws needed to preserve dignity for such victims in the future.The 2 Cal.Highway Patrols should both be fired for ethics violations. The one should not have been allowed to "resign", but rather "fired" loudly and clearly. I'm sure they have an ethics code as all professions do. Laws should be changed to ensure that the CHP's and all police organizations should now be expected to respect rights of families and victims regarding this unethical and inhumane behavior in the future, so that no judge has a reason to dismiss such a case again. Had these 2 policemen wanted to, as I've read, share with other teenage drivers to get a point across about safe driving, the internet was not a wise choice.
However, I would like to commend those policemen who did initially take care that the family be spared these scenes.
As far as winning money for the lawsuit? I am not a big believer in money lawsuits. However, my husband reminds me that money is what these organizations, corporations and businesses hear and so if $20 million dollars is the language that gets these laws changed, then I suppose it would be worth it. Nikki Catsouras was, however, priceless...and $20 million dollars wouldn't begin to cover our world's loss of her.
Since I'm not too technologically skilled and do not know how to do it myself. I hope someone can send the family my wish for healing and strength.

[Vicki]

This poor child and her family. I wonder how the father was receiving the pictures in his email...who would have access to his email address? That is very disturbing. Just seeing the pictures now makes my stomach weak. I agree with other's that the dispatchers should have been terminated as soon as they realized they are the ones who leaked the pictures. The family needs to mourn and they are not able to do so with sick, twisted individuals who get off on photos of death. Let her rest in peace people!

[The General]

Oh come on....how long are we going to blather on about these pictures? They represent the FACTS of what this careless young woman did. If you don't like them - don't look at them! The real issue here is that a spoiled drug addled girl is being excused for her horrific behavior (brain tumor - Puh leeze) - which was probably the pattern in her life which caused this incident in the first place. She acted criminally and she paid the ultimate price. End of story. I'm bored with the whole thing, myself. Move on!

[Lida Keli]

I came across this story when I was looking for information about Riley Fox. I read many of the horrible comments posted about this young lady. Some say that she deserved it and I felt sick to my stomach reading all the negative comments. None of these people can hurt Nikki with their heartless and vicious comments. My prayers go out to her family and they should take comfort in knowing that she is in a better place. Nikki no longer has to be apart of this cruel demon filled world we live in. I know demons exist just from reading some of the hateful comments posted about this beautiful girl. No one should ever speak Ill of the dead and especially when you don't even know them. I wish her family could sue all of the people that left unforgiving comments about their daughter. Only god and Nikki know what truly happened on that day.

[Cindy]

If the parents knew she had impulse control problems, why weren't the keys kept in a secure that she did not have access to? I would sue them. Their actions put a lot of people at risk.

[tim]

Truth??

Nikki: alleged Cocaine Addict, spoiled, rich, given everything, knew no bounds or limits or responsibility or decent conduct.

Family: In denial, brain tumor is an excuse, eastern euro family with big money?????????????????_ _ _?

Result: Unfortunate death of a young lady and photos that were published by the CHP against any humanity or protocals of decency! And wako's who use this as melancoly catnip affect.

[noella]

I was surprised that the photos really didn't show anything. It wasn't anything that you couldn't see from a horror movie. Although I didn't enlarge them and look up close

[Lisa]

It never ceases to amaze me how presumptuous people can be regarding their judgement of strangers, and of circumstances that are unknown to them.

I haven't seen anyone post that they knew this girl or her family personally, yet some people have no problem deciding that they intimately know all the details surrounding their lives and her death.

I'm once again reminded that there are people who make themselves happier by exacerbating the grief of others. Seeking out these photos only validates the actions of these people.

[Gregory]

It is now oct '09, three years after. I have just found out about this story myself a few days ago. I feel so terible for Nikki's family. I so much want to apologize in person to these people for the cruelty of this word.
Yes, I realize Nikki made a terrible mistake in getting involed with cocain and then losing control of a "race car". For that, she indeed paid the ultimate price. Unfortunatly what is worse, Nikki and her family are still paying that price because of dereliction of duty on the part of two police officers (C.H.P)and other "gore lovers" on the internet. Thes people don't deserve this, especialy the cruel words and e-mails they recieved just days after the crash occured.
I am now in my 42nd year of life. I have no daughter of my own, but yet I was moved to tears over this.
I cannot slander Nikki's name nor her family because I very mech remember my reckless youth and twice comming close to death on the roadways myself.
A bit of comfort for me, is knowing that for three years now, there has been a beautiful angel in heaven. An angel by the name of Nicole Catsouras.
I can easily imagine that this ordeal has been a hurt that can never heal for her surviving family members. Yet I hope and pray that the Catsouras family may once again have peace in ther lifes. I know it would be a bit of somber peace, but yet, peace none less.

[odie]

Very sad. But no matter what, the family wins, at no point ever,will anyone or any government, ever be able to stop anything on the internet,EVER.

If they did win,it might even get worse for them, most of you have no clue what can be done and no clue how hackers can be hidden, the fairy tale that criminals can be caught,only applies to idiots that make mistakes.