A man from Pennsylvania was taken into custody for allegedly stealing numerous bones, skulls, and other human remains from a historical cemetery.
Authorities in Delaware County, Pennsylvania disclosed that Jonathan Christian Gerlach, aged 34, is facing more than 500 criminal charges after being accused of pilfering over 100 human remains from Mount Moriah Cemetery, some of which are over two centuries old. The arrest of Gerlach followed an extensive investigation into grave robbing at the 200-acre cemetery. Police apprehended Gerlach in the act as he was looting a burial site, carrying a burlap bag containing the remains of two children, three skulls, and other bones. Subsequent searches at his residence and a nearby storage unit revealed over 100 skeletal remains, with an additional eight remains discovered. Authorities stated that Gerlach had been breaking into mausoleums and underground vaults.
During a press conference, Delaware County District Attorney Tanner Rouse described the situation as resembling a real-life horror film, expressing astonishment at the unprecedented scene. He mentioned the complexity of identifying the remains, some of which were hanging or pieced together, making the process challenging due to the age discrepancies among the remains. Yeadon Borough Police Chief Henry Giammarco also expressed shock, describing the discovery as one of the most disturbing incidents in his 30-year career, particularly mentioning the heartbreaking sight of an infant’s remains.
Visitors to Mount Moriah, such as Kristy Cole, conveyed feelings of anger and sadness over the desecration of the cemetery, with Cole sharing her personal connection as her great-grandparents are buried there.
Authorities are additionally probing Gerlach’s online activities, particularly his involvement in a Facebook group named “Human Bones and Skull Selling Group,” where he reportedly posted images posing with a skull. Reports suggest that Gerlach may have engaged in selling bones, with one buyer expressing gratitude for receiving human remains. An Instagram account linked to Gerlach also displayed images of bones for sale.
Gerlach is currently held on a $1 million bail, with a preliminary hearing scheduled for January 20 in Delaware County. He faces a total of 574 charges, including counts of abuse of a corpse, theft, intentional desecration of a public monument, and burglary.