[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.

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][4] 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.

"[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.

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.

And by making this perfect sacrifice to the devil, it might help them go, quote, professional.”[2] 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 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.