A man from Pennsylvania has been taken into custody for allegedly stealing a large number of bones, skulls, and other human remains from a historic cemetery.
Authorities in Delaware County, Pennsylvania have revealed 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 are over 200 years old. As noted by Courthouse News Service, Gerlach’s arrest on Tuesday followed an extensive investigation into grave robbing activities at the sprawling 200-acre site.
Law enforcement officials apprehended Gerlach in the act as he was robbing a burial monument, with a burlap bag containing the remains of two young children, three skulls, and assorted bones. A subsequent search of his residence uncovered over 100 skeletal remains, along with eight more remains in a nearby storage unit. Police disclosed that Gerlach had been breaking into mausoleums and below-ground vaults.
During a press conference on Thursday, Delaware County District Attorney Tanner Rouse described the scene as resembling a “horror movie come to life.” He expressed astonishment at the sight, emphasizing the unprecedented nature of the situation for all involved, including the detectives and medical examiners tasked with examining the remains.
Rouse highlighted the challenging task of identifying the remains, noting that some were “hanging,” others were pieced together, and some were simply skulls displayed on shelves. He mentioned the additional complication of differentiating between century-old remains and newer ones, such as a body with a pacemaker still attached.
Yeadon Borough Police Chief Henry Giammarco, cited by local news site 6abc.com, described the incident as one of the most horrific events in his 30-year career, expressing deep sorrow at discovering an infant’s remains. Visitors to Mount Moriah, like Kristy Cole, expressed a mix of anger and sadness, particularly given the lack of respect shown to the deceased individuals.
Officials are now examining Gerlach’s online presence, including a Facebook group titled “Human Bones and Skull Selling Group,” where he appeared in photos with a skull. According to the New York Post, a member thanked Gerlach for sending them human remains, including those of a possible teen, baboon, and monkey. An Instagram account under the username deadshitdaddy displayed similar images, hinting at potential sales of bones.
Gerlach is currently detained on a $1 million bail, with a preliminary hearing set for January 20 in Delaware County. He faces a total of 574 charges, including 100 counts each of abuse of a corpse, theft, intentional desecration of a public monument, and burglary.