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Man accused of stealing human remains faces new charges
Investigators say more than 100 skulls and other remains were recovered from his home and storage locker as prosecutors filed 494 counts.
- On Friday, Jonathan Gerlach, 34, waived his preliminary hearing at the Delaware County Courthouse on nearly 500 charges related to stolen human remains. He remains in custody at the George W. Hill Correctional Facility in lieu of $1 million bail.
- Police arrested Gerlach on January 6, 2026, at Mount Moriah Cemetery near Philadelphia after discovering him with a burlap bag containing two mummified remains of small children, three skulls, and other bones.
- Gerlach is scheduled for formal arraignment on June 3. Investigators are exploring potential motives, including alleged online activity related to selling bones before his arrest.
- Authorities executed a search warrant at Gerlach's Ephrata home, uncovering more than 100 full or partial sets of human remains. The prosecution withdrew four burglary counts but added two new charges from Luzerne and Lancaster counties.
- Judy Prichard McCleary, whose ancestor's crypt was disturbed, said the crimes are "disruptive" and hopes lawmakers will stop the online sale of body parts. Officials continue identifying remains for reburial.
31 Articles
31 Articles
Family members say theft of body parts from Pennsylvania grave sites is not a victimless crime
Jonathan Gerlach, 34, is charged with two dozen burglary counts after authorities said he stole human remains from gravesites in several counties, along with scores of other charges.
'Made me sick to my stomach': PA man hit with HUNDREDS of charges over alleged robbery of graves
A 34-year-old man is facing nearly 500 charges after police found a trove of human remains he allegedly stole from graves in Pennsylvania.Investigators caught Jonathan Gerlach of Ephrata coming out of the historic Mount Moriah Cemetery and Arboretum in Yeadon with a burlap bag and a crowbar.'To be able to sell body parts on the internet just appalls me, and I just think it should be stopped.' In his car they discovered "numerous bones and skulls…
'Made me sick to my stomach': Pennsylvania man hit with HUNDREDS of charges over alleged robbery of graves
A 34-year-old man is facing nearly 500 charges after police found a trove of human remains he allegedly stole from graves in Pennsylvania.Investigators caught Jonathan Gerlach of Ephrata coming out of the historic Mount Moriah Cemetery and Arboretum in Yeadon with a burlap bag and a crowbar.'To be able to sell body parts on the internet just appalls me, and I just think it should be stopped.' In his car they discovered "numerous bones and skulls…
Pennsylvania man found with bones and skulls in backseat, later linked to theft of over 100 skeletons from local cemetery
Pennsylvania has been dealing with a real-life tomb raider who has been breaking into mausoleums to steal human remains. After an extensive investigation, the Yeadon Borough Police Department recently arrested Jonathan Gerlach, 34. He has since been charged with 100 counts of abuse of a corpse, 100 counts of receiving stolen property, 26 counts of burglary, 26 counts of criminal trespass, and 26 counts of intentional desecration of public monume…
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