> At a Glance
> – Pennsylvania man Jonathan Gerlach, 34, charged with stealing 108 skeletons from cemetery
> – Break-ins occurred at 26 mausoleums and burial sites between November 2025 and January 2026
> – Some remains are hundreds of years old, including infants and children
> – Why it matters: Families may discover their loved ones’ graves were desecrated in what officials call an unprecedented crime
Authorities uncovered a macabre discovery when they arrested Jonathan Gerlach of Ephrata, Pennsylvania, and recovered 108 human skeletons from his home and a storage locker. The remains were stolen from Mount Moriah Cemetery in Delaware County over a two-month period.
The Discovery
Investigators caught Gerlach in the act on January 6, 2026, desecrating a monument at the cemetery that spans Yeadon Borough to Philadelphia. A search of his property revealed the extensive collection of stolen remains.
Delaware County District Attorney Tanner Rouse described the scene:
> “Detectives walked into a horror movie come to life the other night guys. This is an unbelievable scene that no one involved – from myself to the detectives to the medical examiners that are now trying to piece together what they are looking at, quite literally – none of them have ever seen anything like this before.”
The Scope of the Crime
The burglary spree targeted multiple burial sites:
- 26 mausoleums and underground burial sites were broken into
- Some skeletons date back hundreds of years
- Remains include infants and children as young as months old
- Thefts occurred between November 2025 and January 2026
Rouse emphasized the emotional toll:
> “It is truly, in the most literal sense of the word, horrific. I grieve for those who are upset by this who are going through it who are trying to figure out if it is in fact their loved one or their child because we found remains that we believe to be months old infants among those that he had collected. Our hearts go out to every family that is impacted by this.”
Investigation Expands
Authorities are examining Gerlach’s online activity, including social media groups and Facebook pages, to determine if remains were being bought, sold, or traded. The investigation has also connected this case to similar thefts in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania.
Gerlach currently remains in Delaware County Prison after failing to post $1 million bail. He faces multiple charges including abuse of corpse, criminal mischief, and burglary. No attorney is listed in online court records.
Key Takeaways
- 108 skeletons recovered from suspect’s home and storage unit
- Some remains belong to infants and children
- Investigation spans multiple Pennsylvania counties
- Families may need to check if their loved ones’ graves were disturbed
The recovery effort continues as investigators work to identify and date all the stolen remains, while families await news about their loved ones’ final resting places.
