Yeadon/Ephrata, Pennsylvania, January 9, 2026 – A 34-year-old man from Ephrata, Lancaster County, has been arrested and charged with 496 criminal counts after authorities allege he systematically stole human skeletal remains from graves and mausoleums at the historic Mount Moriah Cemetery in Yeadon, Delaware County, over a period of several months.
Jonathan Christian Gerlach was taken into custody on Tuesday, January 6, 2026, around 8 p.m., while exiting the cemetery carrying a burlap bag containing the mummified remains of two small children, three skulls, and assorted bones, along with a crowbar and other tools. Delaware County District Attorney Tanner Rouse described the scene in Gerlach's vehicle as having "numerous bones and skulls" visible in plain view in the backseat.
The arrest followed a months-long investigation into reported burglaries at Mount Moriah Cemetery, a sprawling 160-acre historic burial ground established in 1855 that straddles Philadelphia and Yeadon, containing an estimated 150,000 gravesites, including those of notable figures and Civil War veterans. Authorities began probing the incidents after cemetery officials reported multiple break-ins starting around early November 2025, involving forced entry into at least 26 mausoleums and underground vaults.
During the stakeout on January 6, Yeadon Police Detective Leah Cesanek and Delaware County Criminal Investigation Division Detective Chris Karr observed Gerlach's activities. He allegedly admitted to officers that he had stolen approximately 30 sets of human remains from the site, even pointing out specific graves he had targeted.
A search warrant executed at Gerlach's residence at 100 Washington Avenue in Ephrata, along with a nearby storage unit, revealed a shocking discovery: over 100 full or partial sets of human and skeletal remains. Investigators described the basement as a "horror movie come to life," with remains in various states of preservation—some hanging, some pieced together, skulls displayed on shelves, mummified hands and feet, two decomposing torsos, and other skeletal items. Additional remains, including eight more sets, were recovered from the storage locker.
District Attorney Rouse, in a press conference on Thursday, January 8, stated: "Detectives walked into a horror movie come to life the other night. This is an unbelievable scene... no one involved has ever seen anything like this before." He noted the remains ranged from over 200 years old to much more recent, including those of infants and one body still attached to a pacemaker. Rouse emphasized the emotional toll on families: "I grieve for those who are upset by this... who are trying to figure out if it is in fact their loved one or their child."
On January 8, Gerlach was formally charged with 496 counts, including:
- 100 counts of abuse of a corpse
- 100 counts of theft by unlawful taking
- 100 counts of receiving stolen property
- 26 counts each of burglary, criminal trespass, intentional desecration of a public monument, intentional desecration of a venerated object, intentional desecration of historical lots and burial places, and criminal mischief
- 7 counts each of defiant trespasser (fenced/enclosed) and defiant trespasser (posted)
Gerlach is being held at George W. Hill Correctional Facility on $1 million cash bail, with a preliminary hearing scheduled for January 20, 2026. No attorney was immediately listed in public records.
Investigators believe the majority of the remains originated from Mount Moriah Cemetery, where phone data showed Gerlach's device pinged at the location six times between Halloween 2025 and Christmas Eve. Police are still working to identify the victims, trace origins, and determine if additional cemeteries were targeted. The motive remains unclear, and it is unknown whether Gerlach attempted to sell the remains.
Authorities are also examining Gerlach's connections to online communities, including a Facebook group called "Human Bones and Skull Selling Group," where he was reportedly tagged in photos holding skulls.
The case has shocked the community, with Mount Moriah Cemetery—a site maintained by volunteer groups due to its abandoned status—facing renewed calls for security enhancements. Officials urged anyone with information to contact Detective Cesanek at 610-623-1500 or Detective Karr at 610-891-4700.
This disturbing incident highlights vulnerabilities at historic burial sites and the profound impact of grave desecration on families and cultural heritage.
