Pennsylvania Man Charged After More Than 100 Human Remains Stolen From Cemetery and Stored in Home and Storage Unit
PENNSYLVANIA — Authorities in eastern Pennsylvania have filed hundreds of criminal charges against a man accused of stealing more than 100 sets of human remains from a historic cemetery and storing them inside his home and a nearby storage unit, according to police and court records.
Investigators say the case involves full skeletons, skulls, loose bones, and decomposing body parts taken from Mount Moriah Cemetery in Ephrata, including the remains of children and at least one body that still had a pacemaker attached.
Investigation Began After Repeated Cemetery Break-Ins
Police say Mount Moriah Cemetery had been experiencing repeated break-ins beginning in November 2025, prompting increased attention from local authorities. Surveillance and investigative work eventually led police to Jonathan Gerlach, who was taken into custody on January 6 while allegedly inside the cemetery grounds. Officers reported finding Gerlach carrying a sack containing two mummified children’s remains, three skulls, and additional human bones at the time of his arrest.
Search of Home Revealed Over 100 Sets of Human Remains
Following the arrest, investigators executed a search warrant at Gerlach’s residence on Washington Avenue in Ephrata. Inside the basement, police discovered more than 100 complete or partial sets of human remains, including skulls, skeletal torsos, and loose bones.
Authorities described the scene as disturbing, noting that remains were stored on shelves, hung, and kept in various containers throughout the home.
Additional Bodies Found in Storage Unit
The investigation expanded further when police searched a nearby storage unit linked to Gerlach. There, officers located eight additional bodies, bringing the total number of recovered remains to well over 100. Court documents indicate that investigators also recovered human remains from Gerlach’s vehicle.
Remains Span More Than a Century of Burials
Authorities confirmed that at least 25 of the recovered bodies were positively identified as having been taken from Mount Moriah Cemetery. The remains reportedly span a wide range of burial dates, from over 100 years old to more recent interments. One recovered body was found with a pacemaker still attached, indicating it had been buried relatively recently.
Suspect Admitted to Using Tools to Access Burial Vaults
According to investigators, Gerlach admitted to using a crowbar to pry open underground burial vaults. Police also allege that he sold some of the stolen remains through Facebook, though details of those transactions are still under investigation.
Cell phone records reportedly show Gerlach visited the cemetery at least six times between Halloween and Christmas Eve, during the period when multiple grave disturbances were reported.
Charges Include Abuse of a Corpse and Desecration
Gerlach now faces nearly 600 criminal charges, including:
- Burglary
- Abuse of a corpse
- Desecration
- Theft or sale of venerated objects
The Delaware County District Attorney’s Office is leading the prosecution, and officials say additional charges could be filed as the investigation continues. Authorities emphasized that the case remains active and that efforts are ongoing to properly identify and return the remains to their rightful resting places.
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