The scene unfolded like a nightmare ripped from the silver screen. A Pennsylvania man now faces hundreds of charges connected to the disturbing discovery of over 100 sets of human remains – some complete, others fragmented skeletons – hidden within his home and a storage unit.
Jonathan Gerlach, 34, of Ephrata, Pennsylvania, was apprehended after police began investigating a series of unsettling burglaries at the historic Mount Moriah Cemetery, just outside Philadelphia. The cemetery had been repeatedly violated, its mausoleums and graves disturbed.
Authorities described walking into a scene unlike anything they had ever encountered. The sheer volume of remains, spanning centuries and including the bones of infants, left investigators and medical examiners reeling. It was, according to the District Attorney, a “horror movie come to life.”
The initial break in the case came during a surveillance operation at Mount Moriah Cemetery. Police observed Gerlach leaving the grounds with a burlap bag and a crowbar, clear evidence of illicit activity. A search of his vehicle revealed a chilling sight: skulls and bones in the back seat.
Gerlach confessed to some involvement in the thefts, initially claiming responsibility for around 30 sets of remains. However, the scope of his actions quickly became horrifyingly clear as the investigation deepened.
A subsequent search of Gerlach’s home and a rented storage unit uncovered a far more extensive collection – closer to 100 partial or complete human remains. The painstaking process of identifying the remains and determining their origins is now underway.
He is currently facing over 450 counts, including abuse of corpses, receiving stolen property, and unlawful taking. The charges reflect the gravity and scale of the alleged crimes.
Gerlach is being held on $1 million bail, with his arraignment hearing scheduled for January 20th. The investigation remains active as authorities continue to unravel the full extent of this disturbing case.
