A man from Pennsylvania has been taken into custody for allegedly stealing numerous bones, skulls, and other human remains from a historic cemetery.
Authorities in Delaware County, Pennsylvania have brought forward more than 500 criminal charges against Jonathan Christian Gerlach, aged 34, accusing him of pilfering over 100 human remains from Mount Moriah Cemetery, some of which date back over 200 years. The arrest of Gerlach, as reported by the Courthouse News Service, followed an extensive investigation into grave robbing at the expansive 200-acre site.
Law enforcement officials apprehended Gerlach in the act as he was looting a burial monument, where he had concealed the remains of two small children, three skulls, and additional bones in a burlap bag. Upon searching his residence later that evening, authorities discovered more than 100 skeletal remains, along with eight more remains in a nearby storage unit. The police revealed that Gerlach had been breaking into mausoleums and underground vaults.
During a press briefing on Thursday, Delaware County District Attorney Tanner Rouse described the scene as resembling a “horror movie come to life.” He emphasized the unprecedented nature of the situation, highlighting the challenges faced by investigators in identifying the remains due to their varying states of preservation, with some being centuries old while others more recent. Chief Henry Giammarco of Yeadon Borough Police expressed his shock at the disturbing discovery, particularly lamenting the sight of an infant’s remains.
A visitor to Mount Moriah, Kristy Cole, expressed her dismay at the situation, noting that her great-grandparents were interred at the cemetery. She condemned the mistreatment of the deceased, stating that nobody should endure such disrespect after death.
Authorities are now probing Gerlach’s online activities, particularly his involvement in a Facebook group named “Human Bones and Skull Selling Group,” where he is seen posing with a skull. Reports from the New York Post indicate that Gerlach was thanked by a buyer for sending them human remains, including those of a teenager and primates. An Instagram account, under the handle deadshitdaddy, showcases similar images and suggests that some of the bones were available for purchase.
Gerlach is currently in custody with bail set at $1 million, and a preliminary hearing is scheduled for January 20 in Delaware County. He faces a total of 574 charges, including abuse of a corpse, theft, intentional desecration of public monuments, and burglary.
