Two Men Who Murdered Teen in 'Satanic Ritual' Granted Parole, Were Found Guilty After 'Sacrificing' a Virgin

Two California men are walking free after serving less than 30 years behind bars for the barbaric murder of a teenage girl they sacrificed in a so-called “satanic ritual.”

Royce Casey and Jacob Delashmutt, both 47, were paroled this summer — Casey in August and Delashmutt in July — despite having confessed to the gruesome 1995 murder of 15-year-old Elyse Pahler. A third accomplice, 45-year-old Joseph Fiorella, remains behind bars but is eligible for parole in 2026, according to The Tribune in San Luis Obispo.

At the time of the crime, all three were teenagers obsessed with heavy metal music and the occult. They lured Elyse, who thought she was going to a party, into a secluded grove. There, they strangled her, held her down, and took turns stabbing her in the neck with a hunting knife.

The Los Angeles Times reported that Elyse cried out for her mother and for Jesus before the final blow — Casey stomping on the back of her neck — ended her life. Her killers covered her body with leaves and left her in the grove, where she remained hidden for eight months.

Casey ultimately confessed to a clergyman, leading to the arrests. In 1997, Casey and Delashmutt were sentenced to 25 years to life, while Fiorella received 26 years to life.

Attorneys and judges alike described the crime as “heinous” and “barbaric.” Yet despite repeated parole denials from Gov. Gavin Newsom in recent years, both Casey and Delashmutt have now been released.

In a 2021 letter rejecting Casey’s parole, Newsom himself admitted, “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.”

This time, however, Newsom passed the decision to the parole board, which granted Casey’s release in July. He walked out of prison the following month.

San Luis Obispo County District Attorney Dan Dow blasted the decision. “No amount of prison sentence would be enough to satisfy the debt that they owe to the family of Elyse Pahler and the community,” he said.

The case once again highlights California’s broken justice system — one that increasingly prioritizes the “rehabilitation” of killers over justice for victims and public safety.