Authorities in Pennsylvania have levelled hundreds of criminal charges against a man accused of orchestrating a series of grave robberies, resulting in the theft of more than a hundred human skulls and numerous other remains.
A Macabre Discovery in Home and Storage Unit
Police investigating break-ins at the historic Mount Moriah Cemetery in Yeadon, a suburb of Philadelphia, made a disturbing discovery at properties linked to Jonathan Gerlach, 34. During searches of his home and a personal storage unit, officers uncovered a vast collection of human remains. The haul included over 100 human skulls, numerous long bones, mummified hands and feet, decomposing torsos, and various other skeletal items.
Delaware County District Attorney Tanner Rouse described the chilling scene, stating the remains were "in various states." He noted, "Some of them were hanging, as it were. Some of them were pieced together, some were just skulls on a shelf." Some of the stolen remains were determined to be hundreds of years old.
Targeting Historic Burials at Mount Moriah
The investigation began after board members of a non-profit dedicated to preserving the 160-acre Mount Moriah Cemetery notified police of desecrated grave sites, as confirmed by Yeadon Mayor Rohan Hepkins. Police allege Gerlach specifically targeted older, sealed underground vaults and mausoleums within the cemetery, which is the final resting place for an estimated 150,000 individuals.
The break-ins involved smashing open sealed vaults or damaging stonework to access the interiors. In addition to human remains, authorities recovered jewellery believed to have been taken from the graves; in one instance, a pacemaker was still attached to recovered remains.
Arrest and Hundreds of Criminal Charges
Gerlach's alleged activities came to a head on Tuesday 6th January 2026. According to court documents, he was arrested at the Mount Moriah Cemetery while walking back to his car carrying a crowbar and a bag. That bag was found to contain the mummified remains of two small children, three skulls, and other bones.
Following the investigation, Gerlach now faces a staggering array of charges. Court records show he has been charged with 300 counts including theft, receiving stolen property, and abuse of a corpse. Dozens of additional charges relate to desecrating a public monument, desecrating a venerated object, and desecrating a historic burial place. Gerlach reportedly admitted to stealing roughly 30 sets of human remains from the cemetery.
District Attorney Rouse added that it remains unclear what Gerlach allegedly intended to do with the extensive collection of stolen human remains. The case continues to develop as authorities delve deeper into one of Pennsylvania's most unusual and disturbing theft investigations.
