Phil Spector was am extremely wealthy and highly influential music producer in Los Angeles who had worked with artists such as Tina Turner, Cher, and The Ramones. On February 3, 2003, Spector met actress/model Lana Clarkson while she was working part time at the House of Blues in West Hollywood. Clarkson had landed several lower budget film roles in the past but had recently started waitressing to make ends meet. The pair rode in Spector's private limo back to his mansion, the Pyrenees Castle.

Once back at the home, the pair were alone for about an hour. It's likely that Spector made advances on the beautiful Clarkson, and she denied them. Spector then produced a pistol and put it in her face to attempt to stop her from leaving the room as he had done before with other women who denied him. He then accidentally pulled the trigger while the gun was up to Lana's mouth, which killed her instantly and scattered her broken teeth across the floor. Spector's driver, Adriano de Souza, called 911 and relayed to the dispatcher that Spector had walked out of the house carrying the gun and he had said "I think I've killed someone".

Spector was arrested and charged with first degree murder. The initial trial resulted in a hung jury, with 2 jury members finding him not guilty. In the second trial, the charge was reduced to second degree murder and on April 13, 2009 Phil Spector was found guilty and sentenced to nineteen years to life. Spector died from complications of Covid-19 on January 16, 2021.