Investigators in Pennsylvania have arrested a man after discovering he allegedly collected more than 100 human skeletal remains at his home, authorities say.
The arrest follows a months‑long probe into a series of grave robberies and desecrations at a historic cemetery near Philadelphia, where vaults and mausoleums were broken open and bodies removed from their resting places.
Police say the case grew from sightings of human bones and skulls visible in the back seat of a vehicle near Mount Moriah Cemetery, an abandoned burial ground that dates back to the 19th century and contains tens of thousands of graves.
Officers detained the suspect, identified as 34‑year‑old Jonathan Gerlach of Ephrata, as he was leaving the cemetery carrying a burlap bag and a crowbar, tools detectives say suggested involvement in the crimes.
A search of Gerlach’s home uncovered a shocking scene: more than 100 human skulls and bones, including long bones, mummified hands and feet, and even partially intact skeletons, officials reported.
Many of the remains were found stored in the basement of the residence, some displayed on shelves and others in various stages of decay or assembly, according to law enforcement descriptions.
Alongside the skeletal material, police found jewelry and other personal effects that are believed to have been taken from graves, and in at least one case, a pacemaker was still attached to a body part.
Authorities also located additional human remains in a storage unit linked to Gerlach, further expanding the scope of what was recovered from his properties.
Grave Robberies and Charges
Delaware County prosecutors say the string of break‑ins at Mount Moriah Cemetery began in early November and continued through early January, with at least two dozen mausoleums and burial vaults reported vandalized.
Investigators believe Gerlach targeted older gravesites, smashing open stonework to reach vaults and retrieval of skeletal remains, although they have not yet established a motive.
Gerlach now faces hundreds of charges, including multiple counts of abuse of a corpse, burglary, desecration of a historic burial place, theft of venerated objects and trespassing.
The charges also include counts for receiving stolen property, reflecting the accusations that he unlawfully took and retained human remains removed from their interments.
Prosecutors allege he admitted to taking around 30 sets of remains and even pointed detectives to specific graves from which he allegedly took bones.
Officials have stressed that the investigation is ongoing and that forensic teams are working to identify the remains and determine exactly how many individual sets of bones have been recovered.
Community and Official Reactions
Local law enforcement leaders described the discovery as among the most disturbing they have encountered in their careers, noting the emotional impact on families whose loved ones’ graves may have been disturbed.
Mount Moriah Cemetery spans parts of Philadelphia and the nearby borough of Yeadon, and is known as one of the region’s largest abandoned burial grounds, with cemeteries dating back more than a century.
Police say the cemetery had been reporting an uptick in suspicious activity before the arrests, including disturbed soil and signs of forced entry into vaults that should have remained sealed.
Authorities were led to Gerlach in part through a traffic investigation that placed his vehicle near the cemetery on multiple occasions during the time the grave robberies were taking place.
Officials have urged anyone who believes they may have had a loved one buried at the cemetery to contact authorities, as families seek answers and clarity about whether their relatives’ remains were taken.
Broader Concerns and Future Steps
The bizarre nature of the case has raised questions among residents and officials about security at cemeteries and the challenges of protecting historic burial sites from vandalism and theft.
Delaware County District Attorney Tanner Rouse described the scene in the suspect’s home as “horrific,” noting that the quantity of remains and condition in which they were found made it difficult for investigators to fully comprehend the scope at first glance.
Authorities are working with forensic experts to carefully catalog and preserve the bones for potential identification, which could help notify families and potentially bring closure to long‑standing mysteries.
Some remains may be decades or even centuries old, and experts say the process of analyzing and determining age, identity and origin could take considerable time.
The suspect remains held in county jail on $1 million bail, and his next court appearance is scheduled for later this month.
Police say they are also investigating whether the suspect may have traded or sold human remains through online groups or social media, and whether others might be involved in similar activities.
Neighbors expressed shock at the news, with many describing the incident as something more fitting for fiction than real life, while others voiced sympathy for families whose ancestors rest in the cemetery.
Officials emphasised that desecrating graves and theft of human remains is a serious crime not only because of respect for the deceased, but also because it deeply affects the living relatives and the broader community.
As the inquiry continues, authorities say they will pursue all leads and work to ensure that justice is served in what has been described as a deeply unsettling case.
