A man from Pennsylvania is accused of stealing numerous bones, skulls, and even human remains from a historic cemetery, with some of these remains found hanging in his home, authorities report.
Jonathan Christian Gerlach was taken into custody on Tuesday following a lengthy investigation into multiple incidents at the 200-acre Mount Moriah Cemetery in Yeadon, near Philadelphia. Reports indicate that he is now facing a staggering 500 criminal charges after a disturbing robbery spree that began in November.
Law enforcement details how Gerlach allegedly descended into the mausoleum, pried open a vault, and took remains that date back over a century.
At 34 years old, Gerlach hails from Ephrata, located roughly 90 minutes west of Philadelphia. His arrest came after police tracked his vehicle, which had frequently been spotted near Yeadon during the time of the thefts.
On January 6th, officers conducting surveillance noted his car at the cemetery. Shortly after, they saw him exit the cemetery while carrying a crowbar and a jute bag. Upon arrest, bones and a skull were clearly visible in his vehicle.
Gerlach reportedly confessed to taking around 30 bodies from Mount Moriah and talked about how he accessed the burial site.
“This situation may be one of the most horrifying experiences I’ve had in my three-decade career,” remarked the Yeadon Borough Police Chief. He recounted a particularly heartbreaking moment involving a baby’s remains, emphasizing the emotional toll of the case.
According to the Delaware County District Attorney’s office, a search warrant executed at Gerlach’s home and storage facility resulted in the recovery of over 100 human bones and both complete and partial skeletal remains.
The DA noted that some remains are estimated to be 200 years old, while others are more recent and still possess pacemakers. “It’s truly unsettling,” he added, expressing sympathy for families grappling with the implications of this case.
Investigators also uncovered Gerlach’s online activities, including posts in a “human bone and skull sales group.” Some messages even appeared to thank buyers for acquiring what could be “teenagers,” along with “baboons and monkeys.” Social media accounts showed him posing with a skull with captions that painted a jarring picture of his actions.
After considering the extensive evidence, prosecutors compiled an extensive list of 500 charges against Gerlach. These ranged from robbery and trespassing to abuse of corpses, theft, and desecration of burial sites.
Currently, Gerlach remains incarcerated at the George W. Hill Correctional Facility, with his bail set at $1 million. The investigation continues, and officials have noted that more remains could potentially be identified. It remains unclear whether these remains were sold or what prompted Gerlach’s actions.
