Jarno Elg

Case overview

Jarno Sebastian Elg was a Finnish satanist. He was sentenced to life in prison for murdering a 23-year-old man who was not named, eating some of the body parts, and instigating others to participate in a ritual that included torturing the victim and listening to heavy-metal music. The offences occurred on November 21, 1998 in Hyvinkää.

The investigation began when a leg was found from a dump site. The case was therefore called “dump site murder”. The pieces were collected from a dump site.

People involved

Jarno Sebastian Elg

Jarno Sebastian Elg was born in 1975 and was a Finnish Devil-worshipper. He was sentenced to life in prison for murder.

Terhi Johanna Tervashonka

Terhi Johanna Tervashonka was 17 years old. She was from Järvenpää. She was convicted and received prison. A mental health examination found her to be partially insane. She was released from prison in 2003. The text also used the name Terhi Tukio (née Tervashonka).

Mika Kristian Riska

Mika Kristian Riska was 20 years old in the materials. He was from Mäntsälä. He was convicted and received a prison sentence.

The 16-year-old boy

A 16-year-old boy was mentioned. He was from Kerava and was not named. He was considered innocent because he claimed the older men forced him to participate, but the others were convicted.

The offence

On November 21, 1998, in Hyvinkää, a 23-year-old man who was not named was tortured and later died. The materials stated the victim was strangled to death. The ritual also involved torturing the victim and listening to heavy-metal music. Some body parts were eaten, and Elg instigated others to participate in the ritual.

Investigation

The criminal investigation started when a leg was found from a dump site.

Trial

The Hyvinkää District Court sentenced Elg, Terhi Johanna Tervashonka, and Mika Kristian Riska. The court declared most of the details of the case secret for 40 years. The court said the convicted people “were strongly influenced by Satanism.”

The court also stated that:

“The victim, who was not named, suffered prolonged torture and eventually was strangled to death, the court said.”

The materials described Elg’s partners as three alleged satanists and included an unnamed 16-year-old boy.

Sentencing

Jarno Sebastian Elg was sentenced to life in prison for murder. The sentence was imposed in August 1999.

Terhi Johanna Tervashonka received eight years and six months in prison. The text said this was because she was not an adult nor sane, and that she was partially insane based on a mental health examination. The materials also described her sentencing as “murder committed while still a minor.”

Mika Kristian Riska received two years and eight months in prison for assault and “violation of a grave”.

Appeals

The Hyvinkää District Court and the Helsinki court of appeal declared most of the details of the case secret for 40 years.

Outcome

Elg received a life sentence. Tervashonka received eight years and six months. Riska received two years and eight months for assault and “violation of a grave”. The 16-year-old boy was considered innocent because he claimed he was forced to participate.

Timeline

• November 21, 1998 — A 23-year-old man who was not named was tortured and died in Hyvinkää; the ritual included torturing the victim and listening to heavy-metal music, and some body parts were eaten.
• August 11, 1999 — The Hyvinkää District Court sentenced Jarno Sebastian Elg to life in prison and imposed prison terms on Terhi Johanna Tervashonka and Mika Kristian Riska.
• 2003 — Terhi Johanna Tervashonka was released from prison.
• June 2007 — Terhi Tukio (née Tervashonka) allegedly killed a man with a billhook.
• August 23, 2007 — The trial for the June 2007 murder began.

Other details

The materials described the case as the most gruesome homicide in Finnish history. The text also stated that the court declared most of the details of the case secret. The materials mentioned “heavy-metal music” and “black metal music” in describing the ritual. The unnamed victim was described in connection with strangulation.