A Pennsylvania man has been arrested and charged with nearly 500 criminal counts after authorities say they uncovered hundreds of human skeletal remains in his home and linked him to a string of cemetery burglaries across the state.
Jonathan Gerlach, 34, was taken into custody on Tuesday, Jan. 6, at Mt. Moriah Cemetery in Yeadon, Pennsylvania, according to Delaware County District Attorney Tanner Rouse. Investigators later executed a search warrant at Gerlach’s home in Ephrata, where they allegedly discovered more than 100 full or partial sets of human remains.
On Thursday, Jan. 8, Gerlach was formally charged with 496 offenses. These include 100 counts of abuse of a corpse, 100 counts of theft by unlawful taking, and 100 counts of receiving stolen property. The remaining charges span a wide range of crimes, including 26 counts each of burglary, criminal trespass, criminal mischief, and multiple forms of intentional desecration—covering public monuments, venerated objects, historical burial sites, and graves.
He also faces seven counts of defiant trespass in fenced or enclosed areas and seven counts of defiant trespass in posted areas.
According to prosecutors, Yeadon Police Detective Leah Cesanek and Delaware County Criminal Investigation Division Detective Chris Karr were conducting surveillance at Mt. Moriah Cemetery around 8 p.m. on Jan. 6 when they noticed suspicious activity. While monitoring the area, the detectives allegedly observed “numerous bones and skulls” in plain view in the backseat of Gerlach’s vehicle.
Authorities say Gerlach was then seen leaving the cemetery carrying a burlap bag, a crowbar, and other tools. He was immediately taken into custody, and police allege that he admitted to stealing approximately 30 sets of human remains.
Following his arrest, investigators searched Gerlach’s residence and a storage unit with assistance from the Criminal Investigation Division, Ephrata Police Department, and Middle Creek Search and Rescue. During the search, officials say they uncovered over 100 sets of human and skeletal remains in varying conditions.
District Attorney Rouse described the scene as deeply disturbing. “Detectives walked into a horror movie come to life,” he said in a statement. According to Rouse, some of the remains belonged to children, including infants only a few months old. He also stated that while some of the remains appeared to be around 200 years old, others were far more recent. In one instance, investigators reportedly found remains with a pacemaker still attached.
The remains were discovered arranged in different ways throughout the property. Some were hanging, some partially assembled, and others—such as skulls—were reportedly displayed on shelves. Authorities say they are still working to identify how many individuals are involved, where the remains came from, and which families may have been affected.
Police believe the remains were stolen not only from Mt. Moriah Cemetery but also from other nearby cemeteries. Investigators have not yet determined whether Gerlach sold any of the remains or what motivated him to collect them.
“I grieve for those who are upset by this, who are trying to figure out whether these remains belong to their loved one or their child,” Rouse said.
The arrest follows an investigation into a series of grave and mausoleum burglaries that allegedly occurred between Nov. 7, 2025, and Jan. 6. Authorities are also examining Gerlach’s alleged connection to a Facebook group called “Human Bones and Skull Selling Group,” where he was reportedly tagged in photos holding a human skull.
Gerlach is currently being held on $1 million bail. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Jan. 20. The investigation remains ongoing, and officials are asking anyone with relevant information to contact Detective Leah Cesanek at 610-623-1500 or Detective Chris Karr at 610-891-4700.