Murder of SLO County teen Elyse Pahler featured on crime TV show. When to watch
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- Investigation Discovery will air a new true crime series, 'A Killer Among Friends.'
- Episode three explores Elyse Pahler’s 1995 satanic ritual murder in Arroyo Grande.
- 'Devil in the Hallways' airs Monday, July 28 on Investigation Discovery.
About 30 years ago, Arroyo Grande teenager Elyse Pahler was stabbed to death by three classmates performing a satanic ritual.
Now her 1995 murder is the subject of a true crime television show.
Investigation Discovery’s “A Killer Among Friends” is a six-part TV series executive produced and narrated by actress Jennifer Love Hewitt, according to a news release.
Each episode of the show focuses on a violent crime involving “college friend groups, close-knit classmates or high school theater troupes,” Investigation Discovery said.
“We blend together a kaleidoscope of perspectives to tell each of these tragedies that deeply impact group dynamics and shatter beliefs,” Hewitt said in the release.
The third episode of the series, titled “Devil in the Hallways,” focuses on Pahler’s disappearance and death.
What happened to Arroyo Grande teen Elyse Pahler?
Pahler was a 15-year-old freshman at Arroyo Grande High School in July 1995 when she was lured to a Nipomo Mesa eucalyptus grove and killed by her classmates, who were taking part in a “devil-worshipping ritual,” The Tribune previously reported.
Pahler was stabbed more than a dozen times, choked, kicked and left to bleed to death.
The brutal murder was a planned “sacrifice” to Satan so that the three teenagers could improve their death metal playing, investigators said at the time.
Pahler’s family and investigators searched for her for eight months before 17-year-old Royce Casey confessed and led authorities to her body, The Tribune reported at the time.
Casey, 15-year-old Joseph Fiorella and 16-year-old Jacob Delashmutt were convicted of first-degree murder. Casey was sentenced to 25 years to life in prison while Fiorella and Delashmutt received 26 years to life in prison — one year for being armed with a deadly weapon and 25 years to life for the murder.
How to watch ‘A Killer Among Friends’
The episode showcasing Pahler’s case — “Devil in the Hallways” — is scheduled to air Monday, July 28, at 10 p.m. on Investigation Discovery.
The series will also be available for streaming on HBO Max.
This story was originally published July 18, 2025 at 2:42 PM.
