Killer’s Ashes Among Remains Identified in Pilot’s Lockers

Sheriff’s deputies have released the names of more than 5,000 people whose cremated remains were found two months ago stuffed in storage lockers--and among them was a notorious mass murderer.

Among the remains were those of Gian Luigi Ferri, a businessman who killed eight people and injured six at a San Francisco law firm before shooting himself July 1, 1993.

The list includes 32 names that were not fully decipherable. There were about 180 containers of anonymous ashes, said Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Lt. Tom Moore.

The ashes were found June 5 in storage lockers and an airport hangar belonging to Allan Vieira, a pilot who contracted with funeral homes to scatter the ashes.

Vieira’s body was found June 24 in Calaveras County. A note indicated that he shot himself the day the remains were found.

Families of the dead are now waiting for release of the ashes.

The Sheriff’s Department filed a motion Friday in Sacramento Superior Court asking for help. The office is prepared to deal with a neutral administrator but would prefer to involve the mortuaries. Most of the boxed ashes had records tying them to 235 mortuaries and crematories.

Attorneys representing family members in several class-action suits want a neutral referee.

A hearing has been set for Aug. 8 in Sacramento to decide who will take charge of the ashes.