“You thought you’d get away with this. I am in your car. I am in your maps,” he shouted at her, according to the police records.
Over the coming days, Stacey found that the parental control profile, to which she had no access, could almost entirely control the car, including its speed, climate control, lock and curfew hours, determining when the car could be driven.
Between 6 and 12 November 2025, Pucci remotely alternated the car’s temperature setting between extremely cold and extremely hot.
“The victim has not been able to drive certain speeds and on most recent occasions throughout this period, [the accused] has turned on ‘Valet Mode’ which immediately reduces the speed to 40km per hour causing significant safety issues for the victim on the road”, the police documents stated.
“The victim has not had any control of her vehicle since she noticed the parental control profile added on the 1st November 2025.
Consider, an abuser will use any means or method within their power to inflict fear on their victims. It’s one of two languages they tend to speak; Intimidation or Flattery.
This woman was refusing to play his game, so he used the most effective means within his ability to hurt her; hacking her car. The obvious solution is to not associate with abusive people, but in the event that it’s already happened or otherwise unavoidable, the second solution is to remove their tools and create distance.
This represents an abuser being given tools to harass or even try to kill a victim by a company that prioritizes marketability and convenience over safety. If Tesla had been more thorough, this man wouldn’t have total control over this woman’s car.