Pennsylvania man charged with taking remains from a cemetery appears in court

Man in Court for Cemetery Remains Theft

A man from Pennsylvania, accused of stealing over 100 sets of human remains from an old cemetery, appeared in court recently. During the brief session, he apparently waived his right to an evidentiary hearing.

Jonathan Gerlach, 34, showed up in a bright green prison jumpsuit at the Delaware County court. There was a noticeable change in his appearance compared to his booking photo; he was clean-shaven with his hair pulled back in a bun. He didn’t say much while there, which, I suppose, isn’t entirely surprising given the circumstances.

Facing nearly 500 charges for what some are calling a shocking act at Mount Moriah Cemetery near Philadelphia, Gerlach’s allegations include robbery, abuse of corpses, and desecration of monuments. It’s a lot to take in, really.

Interestingly, during the hearing, prosecutors dropped two theft charges but added new ones related to similar incidents in Lancaster and Luzerne counties. This case has left many—both law enforcement and the general public—stunned since his arrest back in January.

District Attorney Tanner Rouse described the situation as “horror movie come true,” which feels an apt description given that authorities found over 100 bones and partial sets at Gerlach’s home and storage in Ephrata.

Some remains were thought to be centuries old, while others belonged to infants. It’s just, well—hard to comprehend how someone could do this.

Police were alerted to Gerlach’s activities after bones and skulls were spotted inside his car during surveillance at the cemetery. Investigators later observed him leaving the site with tools such as a gunny bag and crowbar. Reportedly, he admitted to taking about 30 sets of human remains, which adds another layer of horror. Families with loved ones buried at Mount Moriah are understandably devastated by all this.

Gerlach is currently in the Delaware County Jail with a bail set at $1 million. There’s no clear indication from court records on whether he has entered a plea, and it seems no lawyer could be reached to comment on his behalf.

This situation is not just a legal matter; it’s deeply personal for those affected. Judy Pritchard McCreary, whose ancestor’s remains were disturbed, expressed her grief, saying she believes their souls are in heaven and still finds the whole situation devastating.