Who is Merl Hefferman? Hells Angels member behind gruesome illegal cremations also organized toy runs for children
FRESNO, CALIFORNIA: Merl Hefferman, a member of the notorious Hells Angels Motorcycle Club, has found himself at the center of a legal storm. Federal prosecutors recently revealed a shocking story in a sentencing memorandum filed last week in California.
This tale unravels with a series of events with Hefferman's involvement in four illegal cremations, ultimately obstructing justice and causing immense pain to the victims' families.
As the legal process unfolds, Hefferman's actions and the consequences they brought about are being scrutinized.
Merl Hefferman's criminal journey
Merl Hefferman, 54, is slated to be sentenced for obstructing justice, to which he pleaded guilty in December. He was among the 11 Hells Angels members named in a 2018 indictment that alleged racketeering and conspiracy to commit murder.
Prosecutors from the Northern District of California have meticulously documented Hefferman's actions. He admitted to having Joel Silva's body illegally cremated on or about June 16, 2014. Silva, a murder victim, had his remains disposed of through this illegal cremation.
“Hefferman obstructed justice. He also caused immense pain to Silva’s family: they had nobody to mourn, no closure, and no certainty about what had happened to Silva until the Group 1 Trial in 2022 — nearly eight years after Silva disappeared,” prosecutors wrote.
Levi Phipps, the crematory manager at the Yost & Webb Funeral Home in Fresno, testified at the trial of Hefferman's co-defendants, providing a grim insight into these events.
Phipps stated that before Silva's murder, Hefferman displayed an eerie fascination with the crematory, even requesting the keys to the facility, allegedly to make "something disappear" someday.
The day after Silva's murder, Hefferman summoned Phipps and ominously told him that he "better be" at the crematory.
What followed was a horrifying scene. Two men, one of whom Phipps identified as Hefferman's stepson, arrived at the crematory, brandishing a gun. They proceeded to load Silva's lifeless body into the incinerator.
Prosecutors highlight the chilling details by stating, "Later that day, two men, one of whom Phipps identified as Hefferman's stepson, came to the crematory, threatened him with a gun, and loaded Silva’s body into the incinerator."
Ominous trail of phone records
What's more? Hefferman called Phipps the next day to demand his silence regarding the illegal cremation. Cellphone records corroborated Phipps' account of events, adding to the weight of evidence against Hefferman.
Phipps, in his testimony, revealed that three more cremations followed, all executed in a similar clandestine manner.
Several months after Silva's murder, Hefferman facilitated another cremation, later identified to be that of Robbie Huff, a former Hells Angels member who had disappeared on February 11, 2015.
Prosecutors contend that Huff had been involved in Silva's murder and its subsequent cover-up. Cellphone records play a significant role in tracing Hefferman's involvement.
These records show Hefferman making multiple contacts with Phipps on the day Huff went missing. This time, Hefferman personally delivered the body to the crematory to have it incinerated.
The grim pattern continued with a third body, that of Art Carasis, last seen at the Fresno Hells Angels clubhouse on July 7, 2016. Then, a fourth body was cremated, but this victim remains unidentified to the public.
Phipps testified that two men had arrived at the facility, unloading a body wrapped in plastic and duct tape. Tragically, all four bodies that were incinerated are believed to have been murder victims, as per the prosecutors' allegations.
Prosecutors have pointed out one of the most chilling aspects of Joel Silva's murder. At the time of his brutal killing, Silva was in the midst of planning his daughter's 15th birthday party at the Fresno Hells Angels clubhouse.
The irony of a family-oriented celebration juxtaposed with the sinister activities within the Hells Angels is a stark reminder of the complex lives of those involved with the motorcycle club.
Joel Silva's mother expressed her grief and loss in an impact statement, stating, "Not knowing where our son was for years was difficult and extremely emotional."
His death had a profound impact, leading to sleepless nights, nightmares, and substantial financial losses for the family.
Prosecutors seek substantial sentence
In light of these heinous crimes, prosecutors are seeking a substantial sentence for Hefferman. They are requesting that he be sentenced to more than seven years in prison.
Hefferman's attorney, James Bustamante, has presented an alternative perspective on his client's life. He has highlighted Hefferman's tumultuous and violent upbringing.
Heferman was thrown out of a second-story window and down two flights of stairs when he was just six months old.
Heferman's mother became romantically involved with his father's best friend, who threw his father out of a car and ran over his legs. Bustamante also alleged that Hefferman's stepfather subjected him and his mother to abusive behavior.
He recounted a traumatic incident from Hefferman's childhood, stating, "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. As a result of this incident, Mr Hefferman packed up his belongings, including a sleeping bag, and left home."
Appeal for leniency for Hefferman
Despite the grave charges, Bustamante argued that Hefferman has adhered to all of the court's requirements since his arrest in 2018. They are advocating for a more lenient sentence, suggesting a term of 2 1/2 years in prison.
Several friends of Hefferman have come forward with character letters, attesting to his charitable work in the Fresno community. This work includes organizing bicycle and toy giveaways, demonstrating a different facet of Hefferman's life.
In December 2016, just months after Hefferman allegedly had Art Carasis' body illegally cremated, he made an appearance on the local Fox affiliate KMPH to promote the 18th annual Fresno Hells Angels Toy Run.
At the time, he spoke passionately about the support and the need for these charitable efforts, saying, "The need is so great for these kids," as quoted by Law&Crime.