Robert Pariset, 35, was found dead at a campground near Auburn, California, on March 25, 1984. A resident of El Dorado County and employed as a maintenance man for Sacramento County, Pariset had been in the area for fishing and gold panning with his brother John, 28.

The brothers met William Paul Thompson and Robert Herman Boyle at a bar known as Murderer’s Bar, about four miles northeast of Auburn, then went on to Thompson and Boyle’s campsite where they drank alcohol and used marijuana. Tensions rose that night; Thompson reportedly became annoyed with the brothers, especially over noisy motorcycles and Robert’s intoxication. John and Boyle left to get sleeping bags and returned to find Robert lying on the ground, later determined to have been fatally attacked.

William Paul Thompson was arrested and charged in connection with the killings of Robert and John Pariset. The case drew strong local attention.