Jacob Delashmutt

Sources

1. The Murder of Elyse Pahler: The Case that Inspired Jennifer’s Body, True Crime Fanatic, March 20, 2026.
2. Murder of Elyse Pahler, Wikipedia, March 20, 2026.
3. Local judge grants parole to Royce Casey, man convicted of killing Arroyo Grande teen , KSBY, June 15, 2022.
4. Elyse Pahler murder case: Here’s a timeline of the 1995 satanic killing in SLO County , The Tribune, June 18, 2021.
5. Parole denied again for SLO County man who murdered Arroyo Grande teen in satanic killing , The Tribune, March 14, 2024.
6. Arroyo Grande teen’s murderer paroled, Cal Coast News, June 10, 2022.

• 1. The Murder of Elyse Pahler: The Case that Inspired Jennifer’s Body

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  The Murder of Elyse Pahler: The Case that Inspired Jennifer’s Body

  Brandy Dishaw

  Eylse Pahler Satanic Murder

  Starting in the 1980s and lasting through much of the 1990s, North America suffered a satanic ritual abuse scare. This was a moral panic fueled by claims of Satan worship. Rumors of teenage abductions, human ritual sacrifice, and sexual abuse ran rampant, generating fear and anxiety across communities. Many of these crimes were tied to heavy metal rock and horrorcore music. This music has been consistently intertwined with religions for decades.

  This period known now as the ‘Satanic Panic’ led to more than 12,000 unsubstantiated cases of satanic abuse in the United States. Elyse Marie Pahler, a 15-year-old girl living in Arroyo Grande, California, was an unfortunate victim of a satanic ritual during this time.

  The satanic murder of Elyse Pahler is believed to have inspired the popular 2009 horror-comedy film, Jennifer’s Body. Written by Diablo Cody and directed by Karyn Kusama, the movie tells the story of popular cheerleader Jennifer (Megan Fox) who is turned into a man-eating succubus after a sacrifice gone wrong.
  Murder of Elyse PahlerMegan Fox in Jennifer’s Body

  Similar to the real-life event, Jennifer was a virgin sacrifice for the devil. This was implemented by a rock band that wanted fame and fortune.
  Elyse Pahler’s Early Life

  Born April 24, 1980, Elyse Mary Pahler lived in the small coastal town of Arroyo Grande. Arroyo Grande is a city on the Central Coast known as one of the “Five Cities.” During the 1990s, the quaint town had just 15,000 inhabitants and the crime rate was low.

  Elyse lived with both her parents, as well as two younger siblings. As she reached her teen years, she attracted attention due to her blonde hair and blue eyes. She dreamed of participating in beauty contests and becoming an actress.

  During her early teen years, Elyse spent a lot of time with her family, even attending church. Like many teens at this time, she would experiment with marijuana. This experimentation eventually got her taken to a drug rehabilitation center. This is where she met 15-year-old Jacob Delashmutt.
  A Band Called ‘Hatred’

  Jacob Delashmutt had a rocky past, having been kicked out of the same school that Elyse attended. However, Elyse looked past these indiscretions and formed a friendship with Jacob. Through Jacob, she would also meet two of his friends, Joseph Fiorella and Royce Casey. The boys ranged in age from 15 to 17 years old.

  The teens decided to create a heavy metal band they named ‘Hatred,’ which was inspired by the world-famous American thrash metal band ‘Slayer’ which formed in 1981. Influences of satanism and the occult were evident in their band style, primarily due to Joseph’s fixation on these taboo subjects.

  While the band was known locally, it never reached the success the boys had predicted. This is when Joseph proposed a plan to achieve money and fame. He suggested that they offer up a young virgin sacrifice to the devil.

  While the other two boys initially thought the plan was crazy, they decided to go through with it. The planning began as a result.
  The Sacrifice and Murder of Elyse Pahler

  In the early evening of July 22, 1995, Jacob Delashmutt, Joseph Fiorella, and Royce Casey convinced Elyse Pahler to hang out with them at a remote spot where the boys would often frequent, a eucalyptus grove in Nipomo Mesa. As Elyse was well-acquainted with the group of friends, she went along willingly.

  After spending time watching TV with her father, David Pahler, Elyse told him that she was going to bed. Like many teens, she believed this to be an innocent lie that would not have any dire consequences for her or her family.

  Instead of going to bed, Elyse sneaked out of the home to meet up with the boys and smoke marijuana. This would be the last time her parents saw her alive.

  Once Elyse, Jacob, Royce, and Joseph arrived at the field, they began smoking. Elyse soon would relax but her relaxed state was short-lived. Soon after arriving, Jacob removed his belt and came up behind Elyse, strangling her. Royce held Elyse’s arms down as Jacob continue to strangle her. Joseph stabbed her in the neck with his hunting knife. The three boys then took turns stabbing her and kicking her as she lay on the ground praying and calling out for her mom.

  The autopsy would later reveal that Elyse had been stabbed a total of 12 times. She did not die instantly from the strangling or the stab wounds, but instead, would die slowly from loss of blood. Once Elyse passed away, the three boys would take turns raping her dead body.

  One of the most disturbing facts of the case is this sexual abuse would continue over the course of eight months as Elyse’s body remained hidden in the woods.

  During this time, Elyse’s family had reported her as a missing person. Investigators may have never found her body if it had not been for a confession made by Royce Casey.

  Murder of Elyse PahlerElyse’s Family
  A Brutal Confession by Royce Casey

  After claiming that he had found God, Royce would confess to the murder of Elyse Pahler in 1996. 17-year-old Royce contacted the police and admitted to what he and the other boys had done to Elyse. He would also lead investigators to Elyse’s remains. They were partially mummified and spread out in the grove just a quarter mile from her home.

  When all three boys were arrested, they admitted that they had planned to kill Elyse sooner but were too afraid to proceed. They didn’t carry out their plan for murder until several weeks after failing to go through with their first plan. Following the arrests, the boys revealed that they had formed their musical band “Hatred” as a way to “glorify Satan and earn a ticket to hell.”

  During the confessions, Royce stated that the murder plot was concocted by Joseph and Jacob.

  Elyse was chosen as their victim because of her blonde hair, blue eyes, and assumption that she was a virgin.

  The boys believed that these characteristics would make her murder the “ultimate sin against God.”
  Heavy Metal Influence: Was Slayer to Blame

  Heavy metal music has long been associated with satanism and the occult. Slayer was believed to play a direct role in the Elyse Pahler murder case. The band is one of the most influential in heavy metal history. Slayer was the favorite band of all three boys and was even the inspiration for Jacob, Royce, and Joseph to start their own heavy metal band.

  Royce, who played guitar in the teenage band, said that he and his band members had been researching satanism and believed that killing Elyse would give them otherworldly powers, such as the ability to play guitar better.

  The boys got inspiration from the lyrics of Slayer songs, such as “Alter of Sacrifice” which has lyrics like “spilling the pure virgin blood” and “Satan’s slaughter, ceremonial death.”

  The group’s violent messages and influential music deal with death, carnage, satanism, and torture. Jacob, Royce, and Joseph were among Slayer’s cult followers and admitted that they believed that the songs had a deeper meaning. Joseph stated after the murder that the “music started to influence the way I looked at things.”

  In November 1996, the Pahler family filed a lawsuit against the band Slayer, stating that the band’s hateful lyrics incited the teens to kill and that the songs gave instructions on how to torture, murder, and rape. The case was ultimately thrown out as there was not a legal position that could make Slayer responsible for Elyse’s death. The Pahler family would try again to sue Slayer, saying that their lyrics were “harmful to minors,” but this lawsuit too would be thrown out in court.
  A Shocking, Premeditated Revelation

  As more information about the murders came to light, Royce admitted that the night of the murder wasn’t the first time the bandmates had attempted to take Elyse’s life. Royce said that the boys, along with another friend, had previously lured Elyse to a remote area. The friend had pretended to slip down a steep ravine and Elyse followed suit.

  Joseph then tossed the boy a knife as the other boys began chanting “Do it! Do it!” However, the boy just stood there, making Elyse believe that they were simply fooling around. Elyse never reported this incident and continued to spend time with the group of boys.
  The Trial for Murder of Elyse Pahler

  The preliminary hearing began in February 1997. District Attorney’s Office chief investigator, Doug Odom, testified that Royce had told him that the boys plotted to kill Elyse due to how she looked and that she would make the perfect sacrifice. The gruesome events that occurred on July 22nd were recounted in detail and many in the courtroom wanted to see the boys behind bars.

  After one month, Joseph decided to take a plea deal and was sentenced by a Superior Court Judge to 26 years to life in prison. In exchange for a guilty plea to first-degree murder, prosecutors had to dismiss all other charges, including rape. In a probation report, Joseph denied Royce’s version of what happened the night that Elyse was murdered but did not deny that he was the first to stab her. He did say that he “wishes it never happened.”

  During the trial, Royce’s defense lawyer admitted that the allegations were “grossly overstated” and tried to change the public’s opinion. However, Royce still received 25 years to life in prison but avoided life without parole by pleading no contest. If Royce would have been tried as a juvenile, he would have received just seven years.

  Like Royce, Jacob pleaded no contest to first-degree murder and was sentenced to 26 years to life. The terms of his sentence state that he would have to serve 85 percent of the term before he could become eligible for parole. Witnesses say Jacob did not seem bothered throughout the case, even after committing unspeakable crimes. Jacob would ultimately say that Elyse was murdered because Joseph became obsessed with her.
  Was Royce Ready for Parole

  In July 2016, Royce had his first parole hearing but was denied for an additional five years. While his defense lawyer did admit that Royce partook in one of California’s most despicable crimes. He had spent over two decades in prison and had managed to rehabilitate himself during that time. In 2017, Jacob was also denied parole for seven years and will not have another hearing until December 2024.

  In 2021, Royce was granted parole by California parole board commissioners. However, the decision was soon after reversed by Governor Gavin Newsom after County District Attorney San Luis Obispo opposed the release. While Elyse’s father, David Pahler, claimed that he believed that Royce was repentant, he said he and Elyse’s siblings would not feel comfortable knowing that the killer lives freely. The three men are still in prison as of January 2023.
  The Aftermath Murder of Elyse Pahler

  No one should ever have to lose a child and the Pahler family has suffered more than any family should. In the weeks and months following the murder, Elyse’s parents were too depressed to leave the house most days. As a result, their income suffered and they eventually lost their home.

  In 2017, a motion was filed by the District Attorney’s office to reimburse the state Victim’s Compensation Board. They paid a total of $34,871 to the Pahler family for counseling and funeral costs. Additional restitution was also requested for Elyse’s father’s lost wages. More than 22 years after the murder, Elyse’s family has still not received compensation from her killers.

  The murder caused David Pahler to develop post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) which played a role in a road rage incident in 2014. According to a police report, someone cut off Pahler and he proceeded to follow the vehicle to a nearby parking lot before pulling the person out of their vehicle. Pahler was charged with battery but the charge was ultimately dismissed.
  Murder of Elyse Pahler

  Jacob, Royce, and Joseph are all serving their sentences at separate prisons: Jacob at the Correctional Training Facility in Soledad, Royce at RJ Donovan Correctional Facility in San Diego, and Joseph at High Desert State Prison in Susanville. The family has stated that they are prepared for Royce Casey to be paroled, and know that it will happen at some point. The Pahler family strongly opposes any type of parole for either Joseph Fiorella or Jacob Delashmutt.

  If you found our feature on the murder of Elyse Pahler interesting, read our articles covering the disappearance of Kacie Woody and the murder of Maddie Clifton.
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  Brandy Dishaw

  Brandy Dishaw is a professional writer who excels in many areas of writing, including history, crime thrillers, and the American justice system. Her passion for writing and true crime has opened opportunities to share real-life stories that capture media attention.
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• 2. Murder of Elyse Pahler

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  Elyse Marie Pahler (April 24, 1980 – July 22, 1995)[1] was a 15-year-old Arroyo Grande High School freshman who was murdered on July 22, 1995 by three teenage boys, Royce Casey, Jacob Delashmutt, and Joseph Fiorella.
  Elyse Pahler
  Elyse Pahler at age 15
  Elyse Pahler at age 15
  Born
  Elyse Marie Pahler

  April 24, 1980
  Templeton, California, U.S.
  Died
  July 22, 1995 (aged 15)
  Arroyo Grande, California, U.S.

  Casey, Delashmutt, and Fiorella lured Elyse Pahler to a remote location and stabbed her to death as a sacrifice to Satan.[2] The trio had planned the act for months, believing that murdering Pahler would "enhance their death metal playing."[2] They were each sentenced to 25 to 26 years to life in prison.[2]

  In 2000, Pahler's family unsuccessfully attempted to sue Slayer, claiming that the thrash metal band's music incited the boys to murder their daughter. The lawsuit was dismissed by a judge.[3]
  Contents

  Background
  edit

  Elyse Pahler was "a vivacious, curious teenager with a dramatic flair--she designed and sewed her own dresses."[3] She attended Arroyo Grande High School with Royce Casey, Jacob Delashmutt, and Joseph Fiorella. Casey, Delashmutt, and Fiorella were self-professed "cult followers" of Slayer, forming their own death metal band named Hatred. More obsessed than his two friends, Fiorella studied Slayer song "lyrics as if they held deep meaning," admitting that "the music started to influence the way [he] looked at things."[3] Fiorella later asked Delashmutt if he would be interested in sacrificing a virgin, selecting their classmate, Elyse Pahler, because he was "obsessed with her and obsessed with killing her."[3][4]
  Crime
  edit

  On July 22, 1995, Casey, Delashmutt, and Fiorella lured Elyse Pahler to a Nipomo Mesa eucalyptus grove, telling her that they were going to smoke cannabis.[5] Shortly after arrival, Delashmutt strangled Pahler with a belt before Fiorella stabbed her in the neck with a hunting knife. Delashmutt and Casey then stabbed her several more times in the neck and back. As Pahler "moaned on the ground, Casey stomped on the back of her neck."[5] Since none of the wounds were fatal, Pahler slowly bled to death.[3][2] After the boys were sure that Pahler died, Delashmutt started to pull off Pahler's pants, since they had previously discussed raping her corpse.[5] Court documents reported that Casey "said they should leave instead, and the men buried Pahler in a shallow grave and left the area."[5]

  Pahler's body was discovered after Casey confessed his role in the crime to a clergyman.[5] The clergyman notified police, and Casey led authorities to Pahler's partially mummified remains. All three were taken into custody and charged "with seven counts, including murder, conspiracy to commit murder, conspiracy to commit rape, and kidnapping."[2] Authorities initially pursued torture and rape charges, but "officials [were] unable to determine whether she was sexually assaulted due to the decomposition of her remains."[2]

  The murder was described in court documents as "one of the most brutal and horrific murders in the history of San Luis Obispo County."[5] Casey, Delashmutt, and Fiorella were convicted and sentenced to 25 to 26 years in prison. During the trial, the District Attorney’s Office’s chief investigator, Doug Odom, testified that the three teenagers had picked Pahler because "she had blonde hair and blue eyes, and because she was a virgin, she would be a perfect sacrifice for the devil."[2] When asked why they committed the crime, Odom reported that Casey said, "By making this perfect sacrifice to the devil, they would gain more craziness, or 'nuts…' That would make them play harder, play faster. And by making this perfect sacrifice to the devil, it might help them go, quote, professional.”[2]
  Subsequent lawsuit
  edit

  David and Lisanne Pahler claimed that the Slayer songs "Postmortem" and "Dead Skin Mask" (from the albums Reign in Blood and Seasons in the Abyss, respectively) gave the three killers detailed instructions to "stalk, rape, torture, murder, and commit acts of necrophilia" on their daughter. The lawsuit was originally filed in 1996 but delayed until 2000 when the killers' trial was concluded. The initial case was originally thrown out, the judge stating, "There's not a legal position that could be taken that would make Slayer responsible for the girl's death. Where do you draw the line? You might as well start looking through the library at every book on the shelf."[6]

  Undeterred, the Pahlers launched a second lawsuit claiming that Slayer "knowingly distributed harmful material to minors."[7] This case too was dismissed, with Judge E. Jeffrey Burke stating, "I do not consider Slayer's music obscene, indecent, or harmful to minors."[7]

  Jacob Delashmutt himself stated in a Washington Post interview, "The music is destructive [but] that's not why Elyse was murdered. She was murdered because Joe [Fiorella] was obsessed with her and obsessed with killing her."[8][9]
  Aftermath
  edit

  Royce Casey was denied parole by governor Gavin Newsom in July 2021. However, a superior court judge in June 2022 overturned the decision and granted parole to Casey which was reversed by the California Court of Appeal.[10][11] Joseph Fiorella had a parole hearing tentatively scheduled for July 2023 after voluntarily waiving his right to a hearing for one year, and Jacob Delashmutt has a parole hearing scheduled for December 2024.[12][13][14][15][16][needs update]

  Royce Casey is imprisoned in Valley State Prison,[17] Joseph Fiorella in High Desert State Prison,[18][19] and Jacob Delashmutt in Correctional Training Facility.[20]

  Delashmutt was released in July 2025.[21]
  References
  edit

  "Elyse Pahler: Killed in Nipomo in 1995". San Luis Obispo Tribune. April 14, 2010. Retrieved October 21, 2019.
  Fountain, Matt (June 18, 2021). "Elyse Pahler murder case: Here's a timeline of the 1995 satanic killing in SLO County". San Luis Obispo Tribune. Retrieved April 10, 2024.
  "Did 'Death Metal' Music Incite Murder?". Washington Post. March 2, 2024. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved April 11, 2024.
  "Slayer Lawsuit Thrown Out". ABC News. January 26, 2001. Retrieved April 10, 2024.
  Jones, Chloe (March 14, 2024). "Parole denied again for SLO County man who murdered Arroyo Grande teen in satanic killing". San Luis Obispo Tribune. Retrieved April 10, 2024.
  "Slayer Case Dismissed". Metal Hammer. Archived from the original on September 27, 2007. Retrieved February 20, 2007.
  "Slayer: Out of the Dock". Metal Hammer. Archived from the original on March 10, 2007. Retrieved February 20, 2007.
  "Judge Throws Out Slayer Suit". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on January 5, 2008. Retrieved November 30, 2015.
  Sharon Waxman (January 23, 2001). "Did 'Death Metal' Music Incite Murder?". The Washington Post.
  "Local judge grants parole for Royce Casey, man convicted of killing of Arroyo Grande teen". KSBY. June 15, 2022.
  Jones, Chloe (March 14, 2024). "Parole denied again for SLO County man who murdered Arroyo Grande teen in satanic killing". The Tribune.
  "Governor denies parole for man convicted in 1995 killing of Arroyo Grande teen". KSBY. July 12, 2021.
  Fountain, Matt (July 12, 2021). "Gavin Newsom rejects release of 1 of SLO County teen's killers". The Tribune.
  "Governor reverses decision to parole convicted murderer". Paso Robles Daily News. July 13, 2021.
  "Governor Reverses Parole Board's Decision". The Atascadero News. July 16, 2021.
  Friedman, Josh (July 12, 2021). "Newsom denies parole to SLO County killer who murdered Arroyo Grande teen". Cal Coast Times.
  "California Incarcerated Records and Information Search Moved".
  Fountain, Matt (December 28, 2021). "22 years later, Arroyo Grande Teen's Family Still has Received No Money From Satanic Killers". Noozhawk.
  "CDCR Public Inmate Locator Disclaimer". Inmatelocator.cdcr.ca.gov. Archived from the original on October 3, 2020. Retrieved March 8, 2022.
  The Tribune (subscription required)

  https://vinelink.vineapps.com/person-detail/offender/1736337;tabIndexToSelect=0

  External links
  edit

  elysemarie.org at the Wayback Machine (archived May 14, 2008), the memorial website for Elyse Marie Pahler

  Last edited 12 days ago by 2603:9000:A706:5918:C404:8D92:89B4:ABC5
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• 3. Local judge grants parole to Royce Casey, man convicted of killing Arroyo Grande teen

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  Local judge grants parole to Royce Casey, man convicted of killing Arroyo Grande teen
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  Local judge grants parole to Royce Casey, man convicted of killing Arroyo Grande teen
  By: Claudia Buccio
  Posted 8:39 PM, Jun 15, 2022
  and last updated 9:26 PM, Jun 15, 2022

  Royce Casey, who was convicted of killing Arroyo Grande teen Elyse Pahler, is a step closer to freedom. A local superior court judge reversed the governor's decision to deny Casey parole.

  It was a gruesome killing in 1995. According to court documents, 15-year-old Elyse Pahler was lured to a secluded area in Arroyo Grande by Jacob Delashmutt, Joe Fiorella and Royce Casey where she was stabbed between 12 and 15 times in the neck and back; at least four times by Casey.

  “Very barbaric and callous, heinous and deplorable,” said Charles Carbone, Royce Casey’s attorney. “Like I said, we follow the law, but we also follow the heart and we realized the severity of the crime, that is number one. Number two, is that Royce Casey is a rehabilitated man.”

  Based on the appeal, also known as order granting petition for writ of habeas corpus, the teens “became infatuated with death metal and discussed sacrificing a virgin as part of a devil-worshiping ritual.”

  “It's tragic all around because not only did you lose Elyse who was this incredibly, wonderful person, but you had these three other boys who changed the course of their life by the horrible things they did by following these lyrics," said Allen Hutkin, attorney for the Pahler family.
  Elyse 5.png
  Pahler family
  Elyse Pahler

  On March 17, 2021, Royce Casey was granted parole.

  San Luis Obispo County District Attorney Dan Dow sent a letter to California Governor Gavin Newsom asking him to reverse the parole board’s decision.

  On July 9, 2021, Governor Newsom reversed the parole.

  “I have determined that Mr. Casey must do additional work to deepen his insight into the causative factors of his crime and coping skills before he can be safely released on parole,” Gov. Newsom said in the Indeterminate Sentence Parole Release Review.

  Royce Casey’s legal team, led by Charles Carbone, appealed this decision through a document called writ of habeas corpus.

  “Because of the crime, not because of who Royce is today, the governor opposed the release and that is just not in accord with the law,” explained Carbone. “Royce Casey isn’t serving a sentence of life without the possibility of parole. Obviously, he is serving one with the possibility of parole.”

  On June 6, 2022, San Luis Obispo County Superior Court Judge Craig Van Rooyen granted Casey’s petition.

  “After review of the record, the Court cannot find evidence to support the Governor’s decision and, therefore, grants the requested relief and reinstates the Board’s grant of parole,” said Judge Van Rooyen in the order granting petition for writ of habeas corpus.

  “The case probably wouldn’t even have been solved or likely would’ve gone unsolved without Royce coming forward very early on the case,” Carbone said.

  Casey’s attorneys say he has turned his life around behind bars.

  “He hasn’t committed any further crimes, he’s educated himself, he’s developed marketable skills, he has profound remorse and regret and shame; he counsels and mentors other prisoners inside,” Carbone added. “He is an exceptional person. His crime is forever deplorable, but he is not as a human being that same child that he once was when he committed the crime 27 years ago."

  San Luis Obispo County District Attorney Dan Dow disagrees with the outcome.

  “While we respect the decision of Judge Van Rooyen, we are disappointed with the effect of the order,” Dow said. “We agree with the governor’s finding that Mr. Casey needs to demonstrate additional insight into the causative factors of his crime and coping skills before he can be safely released on parole.”

  As for Pahler’s family, her death will continue to bring pain but they are not opposing Casey's release.

  “The family is prepared for Royce to be paroled. They know it is going to happen at some point. For the most part, the family is at peace with the decision,” Hutkin said. “Royce has been generally an honor inmate. He’s really tried to reform his life and make better of himself. Generally, there is no unanimity, but the family has accepted it.”

  According to Carbone, the California Attorney General’s Office has 60 days to appeal this decision. If they decide not to, then a parole date will be set for Casey.

  Attorney Allen Hutkin said the Pahler family strongly opposes any type of parole for Jacob Delashmutt and Joe Fiorella.
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  Governor denies parole for man convicted in 1995 killing of Arroyo Grande teen

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• 4. Elyse Pahler murder case: Here’s a timeline of the 1995 satanic killing in SLO County

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  Read today's Edition San Luis Obispo Tribune Logo Log In|Subscribe 69°F News Sports Opinion Restaurants Weather The Cambrian Games Obituaries Finance Classifieds Home Read today's Edition Real Estate Weekly Local Events Video Featured Reality Check Logo Reality Check Uniquely Logo Uniquely The Cambrian Logo The Cambrian California Best Workplaces Logo California Best Workplaces Press Releases Place an Ad - Celebrations Search Jobs Search Legal Notices Enjoy 3 months for only $1.99! Take advantage of this exclusive limited-time offer. SUBSCRIBE NOW Crime Elyse Pahler murder case: Here’s a timeline of the 1995 satanic killing in SLO County By Matt Fountain June 18, 2021 9:00 AM From the left: Elyse Pahler’s grandmother Elyse Walter, and parents Lisanne and David Pahler speak at a news conference in San Luis Obispo Dec. 19, 1997. Elyse Pahler disappeared from her parent’s home July 22, 1995; three teens were convicted of her murder in 1997. From the left: Elyse Pahler’s grandmother Elyse Walter, and parents Lisanne and David Pahler speak at a news conference in San Luis Obispo Dec. 19, 1997. Elyse Pahler disappeared from her parent’s home July 22, 1995; three teens were convicted of her murder in 1997. David Middlecamp dmiddlecamp@thetribunenews.com Elyse Pahler was a 15-year-old Arroyo Grande High School freshman in 1995 when she was lured to a Nipomo Mesa eucalyptus grove and stabbed to death by three teenage classmates performing a satanic ritual. She would have been 41 years old in 2021. Now, more than 25 years later, one of her killers could be freed from prison. For eight months, the Pahler family and investigators were mystified by her disappearance before 17-year-old Royce Casey confessed to authorities, revealing the location of her remains. The brutal murder — Pahler was stabbed more than a dozen times, strangled, stomped and left to bleed to death while calling out for her mother — was a planned “sacrifice” to Satan so that the three killers could enhance their death metal playing, investigators said. Casey, 16-year-old Jacob Delashmutt, and 15-year-old Joseph Fiorella pleaded no contest to first-degree murder and were sentenced to 25 and 26 years to life in prison. The case has been featured in crime documentaries on national media outlets and led to an ultimately unsuccessful lawsuit against the metal band Slayer. Casey, now 43, was granted for parole by California parole board commissioners in March. The Governor’s Office will make the final determination on Casey’s release in summer 2021. In July 1995, 15-year-old Elyse Pahler was lured to a eucalyptus grove on the Nipomo Mesa and murdered by teens Joseph Fiorella, Jacob Delashmutt and Royce Casey. In July 1995, 15-year-old Elyse Pahler was lured to a eucalyptus grove on the Nipomo Mesa and murdered by teens Joseph Fiorella, Jacob Delashmutt and Royce Casey. Courtesy photo Timeline of Elyse Pahler murder case July 1995: Elyse Pahler, a 15-year-old high school freshman, disappears from her family’s Arroyo Grande home. While she’s missing, law enforcement and the Pahler family pursue leads across the country. March 1996: 17-year-old Royce Casey, plagued by guilt and a fear his two friends might kill him, confesses to authorities he was involved in Elyse’s murder. He leads officials to her partially mummified remains in a Nipomo Mesa eucalyptus grove approximately a quarter-mile from her house. Joseph Fiorella, Jacob Delashmutt, and Royce Casey (each in orange) sit in San Luis Obispo Superior Court in January 1997. The three teens were each convicted of first degree murder in the slaying of 15-year-old Elyse Pahler and were sentenced to 25 and 26 years to life in prison. Joseph Fiorella, Jacob Delashmutt, and Royce Casey (each in orange) sit in San Luis Obispo Superior Court in January 1997. The three teens were each convicted of first degree murder in the slaying of 15-year-old Elyse Pahler and were sentenced to 25 and 26 years to life in prison. David Middlecamp dmiddlecamp@thetribunenews.com Casey, Delashmutt and Fiorella are taken into custody and charged with seven counts, including murder, conspiracy to commit murder, conspiracy to commit rape and kidnapping. Special enhancements for torture and rape are alleged, but officials are unable to determine whether she was sexually assaulted due to the decomposition of her remains. November 1996: The Pahler family files a lawsuit against the heavy metal band Slayer, alleging that the band’s lyrics incited the three teens to murder. The lawsuit seeks monetary damages and a halt to the practice of marketing violent music toward juveniles. February 1997: Doug Odom, the District Attorney’s Office’s chief investigator, testifies at a preliminary hearing that Casey told him the trio plotted to kill Pahler because “she had blonde hair and blue eyes, and because she was a virgin, she would be a perfect sacrifice for the devil.” According to Tribune archives, Odom’s testimony “mesmerized the courtroom,” relating how Casey told him the trio lured Pahler away from her home with promises of drugs. Delashmutt strangled her with a belt he slipped from his waist, while Casey held her down and Fiorella pulled a hunting knife from a sheath and started plunging it into the girl’s neck. Delashmutt next took a turn, Odom said, then Casey. A forensic pathologist who performed an autopsy on the girl’s body concluded she was stabbed at least 12 times. None of the individual wounds were fatal, meaning she slowly bled to death. Odom said Casey told him that Elyse Pahler cried out for her mother while being attacked. She “was on the ground praying to God and calling for her mom,” the investigator said Casey recalled. Elyse Walter left this jar with a note and photo of her granddaughter near where Elyse Pahler’s body was found in the Nipomo Mesa, in May 1996. Elyse Walter left this jar with a note and photo of her granddaughter near where Elyse Pahler’s body was found in the Nipomo Mesa, in May 1996. Robert Dyer/The Tribune When Odom asked why they committed the murder, Casey told Odom, “It was to receive power from the devil to help them play guitar better.” “By making this perfect sacrifice to the devil, they would gain more craziness, or nuts, as he said,” Odom said. “That would make them play harder, play faster. And by making this perfect sacrifice to the devil, it might help them go, quote, professional.” March 1997: Fiorella is sentenced by Superior Court Judge Christopher G. Money to 26 years to life in prison as part of an agreement in which prosecutors dismissed other charges including rape in exchange for Fiorella’s guilty plea to first-degree murder. “Joseph, it’s a parent’s worst fear and lifetime pain to outlive their child,” David Pahler, Elyse’s father, said at the hearing. “It’s even worse knowing she was murdered, tortured and raped as a virgin sacrificed on the altar of Satan so that (you) can earn a ticket to Hell.” Joseph Fiorella looks back at the family of Elyse Pahler before following attorney David Hurst out of the courtroom in March 1997. Fiorella was sentenced to 26 years to life in prison for his role in the premeditated murder. Joseph Fiorella looks back at the family of Elyse Pahler before following attorney David Hurst out of the courtroom in March 1997. Fiorella was sentenced to 26 years to life in prison for his role in the premeditated murder. David Middlecamp dmiddlecamp@thetribunenews.com A probation report published in the Telegram-Tribune shows that Fiorella denied Casey’s version of events but admitted to being the first to stab Pahler. “I wish it never happened,” Fiorella is quoted as saying. “Since it’s happened, I always wish that God can bring her back to life. I can imagine how her family must feel.” Later, he reportedly said he never thought of hurting anyone. “It was a stupid mistake.” Then-17-year-old Royce Casey in San Luis Obispo Superior Court in January 1997. Casey was one of three teens convicted in the premeditated slaying of 15-year-old Elyse Pahler. Casey was granted parole by a California parole board in March 2021 after spending nearly 24 years in prison. Then-17-year-old Royce Casey in San Luis Obispo Superior Court in January 1997. Casey was one of three teens convicted in the premeditated slaying of 15-year-old Elyse Pahler. Casey was granted parole by a California parole board in March 2021 after spending nearly 24 years in prison. David Middlecamp dmiddlecamp@thetribunenews.com September 1997: Casey avoids a sentence of life in prison without parole by pleading no contest to first-degree murder and is sentenced to 25 years to life the following November. He would have to serve a minimum of 21 years. October 1997: Delashmutt pleads no contest to first degree murder in a deal similar to his co-defendants. He is sentenced to 26 years to life, of which he would have to serve 85% of the term before being eligible for parole. Jacob Delashmutt, then 17, in San Luis Obispo Superior Court in October 1997. Jacob Delashmutt, then 17, in San Luis Obispo Superior Court in October 1997. David Middlecamp dmiddlecamp@thetribunenews.com October 2001: Delayed due to the criminal case, the Pahler family’s lawsuit against the band Slayer concludes with a judge ruling that the lyrics did not incite violence. “Slayer lyrics are repulsive and profane,” Burke wrote in his 14-page decision. “But they do not direct or instruct listeners to commit the acts that resulted in the vicious torture-murder of Elyse Pahler.” Burke also rules that the music is not harmful to children, as the plaintiffs alleged. Therefore, he added, it is not illegal to sell or market the product, and it is protected by the First Amendment. The Pahler family say they will continue to campaign to prevent marketing violent material to youths. July 2016: Casey has his first parole suitability hearing and is denied parole for five years. Jacob Delashmutt, 41, is seen in a 2015 inmate photo. He is currently incarcerated at the Correctional Training Facility in Soledad. Delashmutt was 18 years old when he was convicted in 1997 of first-degree murder in the premeditated slaying of 15-year-old Nipomo resident Elyse Pahler. Jacob Delashmutt, 41, is seen in a 2015 inmate photo. He is currently incarcerated at the Correctional Training Facility in Soledad. Delashmutt was 18 years old when he was convicted in 1997 of first-degree murder in the premeditated slaying of 15-year-old Nipomo resident Elyse Pahler. California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation December 2017: Delashmutt is denied parole for seven years at a parole suitability hearing. He’s scheduled for another hearing in December 2024. October 2018: Fiorella files a habeas corpus petition challenging his continued incarceration. Fiorella argues his trial attorney did not challenge his mental fitness to stand trial for the 1995 murder. Joseph Fiorella, 40, is seen in a 2018 inmate photo. He is currently incarcerated at the High Desert State Prison in Susanville. Fiorella was 16 years old when he was convicted in 1997 of first-degree murder in the premeditated slaying of 15-year-old Nipomo resident Elyse Pahler. Joseph Fiorella, 40, is seen in a 2018 inmate photo. He is currently incarcerated at the High Desert State Prison in Susanville. Fiorella was 16 years old when he was convicted in 1997 of first-degree murder in the premeditated slaying of 15-year-old Nipomo resident Elyse Pahler. California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation July 2019: Casey waives his next parole suitability hearing and parole is denied for three years. August 2019: Fiorella waives his right to a parole suitability hearing for two years. December 2021: Casey and Delashmutt testify at the request of the San Luis Obispo County District Attorney’s Office in the habeas corpus petition case brought by Fiorella. They tetify that Fiorella did understand the nature of the crime at the time. Fiorella’s challenge is currently under submission by a Superior Court judge. Royce Casey, 43, is seen in a 2018 inmate photo. He is currently incarcerated at Valley State Prison in Chowchilla. Casey was 18 years old when he was convicted in 1997 of first-degree murder in the premeditated slaying of 15-year-old Nipomo resident Elyse Pahler. Royce Casey, 43, is seen in a 2018 inmate photo. He is currently incarcerated at Valley State Prison in Chowchilla. Casey was 18 years old when he was convicted in 1997 of first-degree murder in the premeditated slaying of 15-year-old Nipomo resident Elyse Pahler. California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation March 2021: Casey is granted parole by two California parole board commissioners. During the hearing, the commissioners find that Casey has a nearly 20-year record of model behavior in prison and participated in a series of rehabilitative programs, serves as a mentor, earned his GED, and is working on a specialized bachelor’s degree in psychology and sociology. He says that if released, he plans to move to the Los Angeles area and find work as a substance abuse counselor. “We find that the person who committed that crime and the person who sits before us today ... are two different people,” Presiding Commissioner Dianne Dobbs said. Following the ruling, the state’s legal team has 120 days to review legal issues involved before it goes to the desk of Gov. Gavin Newsom. The governor can reverse the decision, refer it for further review, or take no action, in which Casey will be scheduled for release after 30 days. Fiorella waives his parole suitability hearing for one year. He has a tentatively scheduled hearing set for July 2022. San Luis Obispo County District Attorney Dan Dow looks over some of the boxes of evidence from the Rex Krebs murder case in a 2019 photo. San Luis Obispo County District Attorney Dan Dow looks over some of the boxes of evidence from the Rex Krebs murder case in a 2019 photo. David Middlecamp dmiddlecamp@thetribunenews.com June 2021: San Luis Obispo County District Attorney Dan Dow writes a letter to Newsom opposing Casey’s release, writing that Casey “has never adequately explained why he participated in such a sadistic and heinous crime.” Dow argues the parole panel “basically disregarded and gave inadequate weight to the horrific crime this inmate committed and looked instead at Casey’s behavior in prison,” Dow wrote. “In fact, there was little discussion of his crime in the March 2021 hearing. These commissioners did not correctly follow the law.” David Pahler, Elyse’s father, tells The Tribune he does not oppose Casey’s release and personally thinks Casey is suitable and not a public safety risk. Reporting from former Telegram-Tribune reporters Danna Dykstra-Coy, Dave Wilcox, and Patrick S. Pemberton contributed to this article. Related Stories from San Luis Obispo Tribune Crime SLO County teens killed Elyse Pahler in a satanic ritual in 1995. One could soon go free June 18, 2021 9:00 AM Crime Elyse Pahler: Killed in Nipomo in 1995 April 14, 2010 10:15 AM Profile Image of Matt Fountain Matt Fountain The Tribune (805) 781-7909 Matt Fountain is The San Luis Obispo Tribune’s courts and investigations reporter. A San Diego native, Fountain graduated from Cal Poly’s journalism department in 2009 and cut his teeth at the San Luis Obispo New Times before joining The Tribune as a crime and breaking news reporter in 2014. 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• 5. Parole denied again for SLO County man who murdered Arroyo Grande teen in satanic killing

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  Royce Casey is seen in San Luis Obispo Superior Court in January 1997, left, and in a 2018 inmate photo from Valley State Prison in Chowchilla. Casey was one of three teens convicted in the premeditated slaying of 15-year-old Elyse Pahler. Royce Casey is seen in San Luis Obispo Superior Court in January 1997, left, and in a 2018 inmate photo from Valley State Prison in Chowchilla. Casey was one of three teens convicted in the premeditated slaying of 15-year-old Elyse Pahler. Tribune file photo and CDCR Editor’s note: This story contains disturbing descriptions of violence. One of the men who lured and murdered an Arroyo Grande teenager in 1995 as part of a devil-worshipping ritual will not be paroled after Gov. Gavin Newsom reversed the parole board’s decision for the second time, the San Luis Obispo County District Attorney’s Office announced Wednesday. The decision came after about three years of legal proceedings reversing decisions as to whether 45-year-old Royce Casey poses a danger to the public. Casey, who is currently serving a life sentence at Valley State Prison in Chowchilla for the murder of 15-year-old Elyse Pahler, was denied parole twice previously, in July 2016 and July 2019. But in March 2021, the parole board found Casey suitable for parole. Gov. Gavin Newsom reversed the decision in July 2021, alleging Casey lacked insight into the severity of his crime. Then, in June 2022, Superior Court Judge Craig van Rooyen ruled to grant Casey’s writ of habeas corpus petition, an order that can grant release of an inmate if detention is found to be unlawful. This meant Casey was again suitable for parole. But the California Office of the Attorney General appealed van Rooyen’s decision in July 2022. The Court of Appeal ultimately agreed with the governor in September. The parole board again found Casey eligible for parole in October and the District Attorney’s Office sent a letter to Newsom alleging the parole board gave inadequate weight to the crime and looked primarily at Casey’s behavior in prison. Newsom ultimately agreed with the District Attorney’s Office and reversed the decision, the agency said in a news release Wednesday. “Mr. Casey must better understand the internal processes that led him to commit the crime and hone the skills he will need to manage them beyond the controlled environment of prison,” Newsom said in a letter sent to the District Attorney’s Office. Newsom found Casey poses an unreasonable danger to society if he is released. 15-year-old Elyse Pahler was lured to a eucalyptus grove on the Nipomo Mesa and murdered by teens Joseph Fiorella, Jacob Delashmutt, and Royce Casey. 15-year-old Elyse Pahler was lured to a eucalyptus grove on the Nipomo Mesa and murdered by teens Joseph Fiorella, Jacob Delashmutt, and Royce Casey. Courtesy photo Men murdered teen as ‘sacrifice’ in ‘devil-worshipping ritual,’ court documents say Casey was 17 years old, “infatuated with death metal music” and doing drugs when he and two other teens lured Pahler to a remote location in Arroyo Grande on July 22, 1995, telling the girl they were going to smoke marijuana, court records showed. According to the records, Casey had discussed “sacrificing a virgin as part of a devil-worshipping ritual” with 17-year-old Jacob Delashmutt and Joe Fiorella, who was 15. The three men had planned Pahler’s murder for several months. When Pahler arrived at the location in a eucalyptus grove on the Nipomo Mesa, she was killed within 15 to 20 minutes, court records said. Delashmutt strangled Pahler with his belt before Fiorella stabbed her four to six times in the neck with a hunting knife. Delashmutt then took the knife and stabbed her four to five more times in the neck, before Casey took the knife and stabbed her an additional four times in the back. “As Pahler moaned on the ground, Casey stomped on the back of her neck,” the court records said. Court documents said Delashmutt started to pull off Pahler’s pants when it was clear she was dead, noting the boys had discussed having sex with her corpse. Casey said they should leave instead, and the men buried Pahler in a shallow grave and left the area. Eight months later, Casey confessed his role in the crime to a clergyman. That clergyman contacted law enforcement, and Casey described the crime to detectives and led them to Pahler’s body. Separate court documents describe the crime as “one of the most brutal and horrific murders in the history of San Luis Obispo County.”

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• 6. Arroyo Grande teen’s murderer paroled

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  Superior Court Judge Craig van Rooyen last week ordered parole for a San Luis Obispo County man who, as a teenager, killed a 15-year-old Arroyo Grande High School student in what was initially planned as part of a satanic ritual.

  In 1995, Casey Royce, then 17, murdered Arroyo Grande High School freshman Elyse Pahler, with help from accomplices Jacob Delashmutt, then 16, and Joseph Fiorella, then 15. The three conspirators made plans to kill Pahler, who was their friend, and to dismember, sexually violate and cannibalize her body as part of a satanic ritual.

  The teens strangled and stabbed Pahler. However, they did not carry out the planned satanic ritual. Rather, they dragged Pahler’s body and tried to hide it before fleeing.

  While Pahler was on the ground crying out for her mother and for Jesus, Casey stomped on her neck and head.

  Eight months later, with the murder still unsolved, Casey confessed the crime to a clergyman. He later described the murder to a district attorney investigator and led law enforcement to the body.

  In 1997, Casey submitted a plea in the case, and he was convicted of first-degree murder. He has been incarcerated for 24 years.

  In March, the California Board of Parole Hearings decided Casey, now 43, should be granted release from prison.

  SLO County District Attorney Dan Dow then wrote a letter to Gov. Gavin Newsom urging him to reverse the decision. Casey has never adequately explained why he participated in a such a sadistic and heinous crime, Dow wrote in the letter to Newsom.

  Newsom denied Casey’s parole in July 2021. The governor concluding Casey must do additional work to deepen his insight into the factors that caused him to commit the crime, and he must develop coping skills before he can be safely released on parole.

  Judge van Rooyen found Casey “has shown deep remorse,” and that it was Casey’s confession that led to the convictions, according to the judge’s order.

  Casey “was not sentenced to life without the possibility of parole,” Judge van Rooyen wrote in his order. “If the ‘current dangerousness’ standard is to have any meaning, there must be some rational nexus between evidence in the record and the governor’s conclusion that Casey remains a danger to society. The court can find none.”