Hells Angels member Merl Hefferman is accused of illegally cremating four bodies in Fresno mortuary known as ‘the pizza oven’ to ‘make them disappear’

Merl Hefferman, 54, admitted he had fellow Hells Angels member and murder victim Joel Silva’s body illegally cremated in 2014
Prosecutors believe he was involved the in the illegal cremation of three additional bodies but Hefferman has only been charged with the disposal of Silva
The bodies were made to ‘disappear’ at Yost & Webb Funeral Home in Fresno, known as ‘the pizza oven’ by the Hells Angels

A member of the infamous Hells Angels Motorcycle Club illegally cremated four bodies – all believed to have been murdered – in an effort to make them ‘disappear’, federal prosecutors in California allege.

Merl Hefferman, 54, admitted he had fellow Hells Angels member and murder victim Joel Silva’s body illegally cremated on or about June 16, 2014, according to prosecutors .

The case is part of a much larger racketeering takedown of 12 members of the Hells Angels of Sonoma County, brought by prosecutors with the Northern District of California.

Hefferman pled guilty to obstruction of justice by disposing of Silva’s body in December and is set to be sentenced by Judge Edward Chenor for up to seven years on Thursday.

Levi Phipps, crematory manager at the Yost & Webb Funeral Home in Fresno, known as ‘the pizza oven’ by the Hells Angels, testified that on the day of Siva’s murder Hefferman and his step-son threatened him with a gun and loaded Silva’s body into the incinerator.

**Merl Hefferman, 54, admitted he had fellow Hells Angels member and murder victim Joel Silva’s body illegally cremated in 2014**

**Bodies were illegally disposed at the Yost & Webb Funeral Home in Fresno, known as ‘the pizza oven’ by the Hells Angels, prosecutors allege**

Phipps alleged that before Silva’s murder, Hefferman became ‘fascinated with the crematory’ and asked for the keys to the facility so that he could make ‘something disappear’ someday.

The manager also testified that Phipps called him the next day to tell him to keep silent.

Cellphone records corroborated Phipps’ story, according to prosecutors.

‘Not knowing where our son was for years was difficult and extremely emotional,’ Silva’s mother wrote in her victim impact statement.

Phipps explained that three further such cremations were carried out by Hefferman and is associated, but he has not been charged or convicted with these, the LA Times reported.

Several months after Silva’s murder, a man identified as Robbie Huff, a former Hells Angels member who went missing on February 11, 2015.

Prosecutors stated that Huff was involved in Silva’s murder and the subsequent coverup.

On this occasion Hefferman ‘personally delivered’ the body to the crematory to have the body incinerated, prosecutors allege.

The next illegal incineration was of a man named Art Carasis, who was last seen at the Fresno Hells Angels clubhouse on July 7, 2016.

The final body to be cremated has not yet been publicly identified.

Phipps testified two men arrived at the facility and unloaded a body wrapped in plastic and duct tape.

Hefferman’s attorney James Bustamante argued that the biker had a ‘tumultuous and violent upbringing’, including being abused by his stepfather.

‘When Mr. Hefferman was seven years old, he came home from school to find his stepfather dragging his mother around the house by her hair.

‘His stepfather then pulled out a gun and shot at Mr. Hefferman four times,’ Bustamante wrote.

Adding: ‘As a result of this incident, Mr. Hefferman packed up his belongings, including a sleeping bag, and left home.’

Bustamante also is asking that his client be sentenced for two and a half years, citing that he has has complied with all the court’s requirements since his 2018 arrest.

As part of the same case, three other members of the gang were convicted of killing Silva.

Brian Wendt was convicted of shooting Silva in the head, and two senior Hells Angels members, Jonathan Nelson and Russell Taylor Ott, were convicted of murder for orchestrating the killing.

Source: Daily Mail