> At a Glance
> – Detectives caught Jonathan Gerlach, 34, leaving a cemetery with a crowbar and a burlap sack.
> – A house search allegedly uncovered hundreds of human bones, some from infants and some with medical devices still attached.
> – He faces 496 charges, including abuse of corpse, theft, and desecration of graves.
> – Why it matters: Families may learn their loved ones’ graves were raided in a two-month burglary spree across Pennsylvania cemeteries.
On January 6, surveillance at Mt. Moriah Cemetery in Yeadon, Pennsylvania, ended with the arrest of Jonathan Gerlach after officers spotted skulls and bones in his backseat and watched him walk out carrying burglary tools.
The Discovery
Detectives had been investigating a string of mausoleum break-ins since November 7. When they searched Gerlach’s Ephrata home and storage unit, they say they found:
- More than 100 partial or complete skeletons
- Remains of babies, including one still connected to a pacemaker
- Bones ranging from 200-year-old specimens to recent burials
- Skulls arranged on shelves and remains “hanging as it were,” per Delaware County DA Tanner Rouse
Charges Filed
On January 8, prosecutors filed 496 counts against Gerlach:
| Category | Number of Counts |
|---|---|
| Abuse of corpse | 100 |
| Theft by unlawful taking | 100 |
| Receiving stolen property | 100 |
| Burglary, trespass, desecration, and criminal mischief | 196 |
Additional tallies include seven counts each of defiant trespass for fenced and posted property.
Online Trail
Authorities are also reviewing Gerlach’s activity in a Facebook group titled “Human Bones and Skull Selling Group,” where he was tagged in photos holding skulls. Investigators have not yet determined whether he sold any remains.
Key Takeaways
- Gerlach allegedly admitted stealing about 30 sets of remains; police recovered far more.
- Multiple cemeteries across the region may have been hit.
- He is held on $1 million bail with a preliminary hearing January 20.
Families with relatives buried in affected cemeteries are urged to contact detectives as the investigation continues.
