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A Lancaster County man, Jonathan Gerlach, faces over 500 charges for allegedly stealing human remains from Mount Moriah Cemetery in Delaware County. The 34-year-old was arrested after a months-long investigation revealed he had taken more than 100 full or partial sets of remains from mausoleums and vaults at the cemetery, which straddles Philadelphia and Yeadon.
Police arrested Gerlach on Tuesday (January 6) as he left the cemetery carrying a burlap sack containing mummified remains of two children, three skulls, and other bones. Authorities later discovered more remains at his home in Ephrata, Pennsylvania. The grim collection included remains stored in the basement, some suspended from the ceiling, and others pieced together.
The investigation began after a series of break-ins at the cemetery, where at least 26 mausoleums and vaults were forced open since early November. Gerlach's vehicle and cell phone records placed him near the cemetery during the burglaries. According to CBS 21, Delaware County District Attorney Tanner Rouse described the scene as "a horror movie come to life."
Gerlach has been charged with burglary, abuse of a corpse, desecration, and theft or sale of venerated objects. He is being held on $1 million bail. Authorities are still working to identify the remains and notify families. The motive behind the thefts remains unclear, and police are investigating whether remains were taken from other cemeteries. Anyone with information is urged to contact local authorities.