In October 1990, Pappas traveled to the United States for the first time and began skating in various competitions internationally.
[3] The brothers soon won sponsorship from Hardcore with clothing and skateboards provided in return for demos at shopping centres.
[1] In 1999, Pappas was arrested for attempting to smuggle 103 grams of cocaine into Australia in the sole of a skate shoe.
The conviction effectively ended his pro skateboarding career as he was no longer able to travel for competitions.
[6] According to his older brother Tas, Pappas had become depressed and frustrated over his career ending and began using heroin.
In February 2006, Phillips was granted an interim intervention order against Pappas after he physically assaulted her and damaged her property.
[5] On 3 March, Pappas admitted himself to the emergency room at The Alfred Hospital where he told staff that he was experiencing suicidal thoughts.
The two later had a conversation in which Pappas said he could not remember what happened the day of Phillips' death (24 February) and only recalled waking up on a bench and then taking a large quantity of Xanax.
[7] In 2012, a coroner's inquest determined that Pappas killed Lynette Phillips and had drowned himself after her body was found.
A psychologist who treated Pappas before his death noted that he had shown signs of "suicidal ideation, homicidal tendencies, and psychotic-related symptoms such as paranoia, anger and frustration.