Two killers from notorious ‘satanic’ teen murder case granted parole
Eight months after 15-year-old Elyse Pahler vanished from her Arroyo Grande home, another teenager overwhelmed by guilt confessed to a pastor about the horrific crime he and two friends had committed. Royce Casey later admitted to authorities and led them to Elyse’s decomposed body, revealing a case marked by brutal violence, death metal music influences, and alleged Satan worship that shocked the community.
On Friday, 30 years after the murder, Casey was released on parole from Valley State Prison in Chowchilla. A month earlier, co-defendant Jacob Delashmutt was also quietly freed. In 1997, Casey (17), Delashmutt (16), and Joseph Fiorella (15) had all pled no contest to murder, receiving sentences of 25 years to life. Because there was no trial, many questions about their motivations remained unanswered.
Casey was granted parole for the third time this March; Governor Gavin Newsom referred the case to the full parole board, which upheld the decision just over 30 years after the crime. Casey’s attorney, Charles Carbone, said Casey had met the state’s criteria for parole, citing over three decades served and evaluations from three psychiatric experts labeling him a low risk to reoffend.
Allen Hutkin, attorney for the Pahler family, said Elyse’s father did not oppose Casey’s release, but was shocked by Delashmutt’s early parole. Hutkin noted that, unlike Casey, the other two defendants never showed remorse and “should never get out.”
Casey’s case for parole included a 46-page statement submitted in 2021 describing his rehabilitation, remorse, and detailed reflections on the crime. He described himself as an angry, isolated teen who bonded with his friends over death metal bands like Slayer, whose lyrics about murder, suicide, and satanic rituals deeply influenced the group. Their fascination eventually led to an obsession with Elyse Pahler as a “perfect sacrifice.”
According to Casey, the trio discussed sacrificing someone dozens of times over two months before targeting Elyse. On the night of the attack, after Elyse snuck out of her home, they led her to a eucalyptus grove, where Delashmutt strangled her with a belt and all three took turns stabbing her. As Elyse cried out, Casey stomped on her head and neck, ending her life. Casey admitted he could have stopped the attack, but chose not to.
After the murder, the teens covered Elyse’s body and boasted about the crime, even celebrating in their band, Hatred, believing they would be rewarded by the devil. Meanwhile, law enforcement initially treated Elyse’s disappearance as a runaway case and made little effort to find her.
Haunted by guilt, Casey finally confessed to a pastor nearly a year later, unable to live with the weight of his actions. The case drew national attention during a period of “satanic panic” in the 1980s and 1990s, with fears stoked by the violent themes in death metal music. Elyse’s family even sued the band Slayer and others, alleging the music was improperly marketed to youth, though the case was dismissed on First Amendment grounds.
Both attorneys involved agree the music influenced the crime but acknowledge multiple factors like drugs, isolation, and a need for acceptance also played roles.
Parole boards weigh many factors, including remorse and rehabilitation, when deciding on release. Governor Newsom had rejected Casey’s parole twice before but ultimately did not block the latest decision. Elyse’s family has suffered deeply since the murder, with her parents facing mental health struggles and financial hardship.
In prison, Casey kept his crime a secret for fear of retaliation. Fiorella remains incarcerated and is tentatively up for parole next June. Neither Casey nor Delashmutt can return to San Luis Obispo County or contact Elyse’s family.
Carbone believes Casey will adjust slowly to life outside prison and become a responsible member of society, saying, “When you have missed the last 30 years, you don’t just dive back in.”
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