In the summer of 1997, Josef Ben Meddour was murdered by members Vlad and his accomplice Jon Nödtveidt. This act was described by the police to be a homophobic hate crime. When Nödveidt and Vlad were arrested for the crime respectively on the 15th and 18 December 1997, the police discovered satanic altars in the homes of the two suspects. A human skull was also found at Vlad's place, for which he was charged with possession of human parts. According to the police, the cult never had more than a handful of followers.