Jonathan Gerlach arrest: Cops find more than 100 skeletal remains in man's Ephrata, Pennsylvania home
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A Pennsylvanian man is now facing a staggering list of over 500 charges after authorities discovered an alarming collection of more than 100 human skeletal remains at his residence.

Law enforcement officials allege that 34-year-old Jonathan Gerlach repeatedly trespassed into mausoleums and disturbed graves at Mt. Moriah Cemetery in Yeadon, Pennsylvania, starting from Halloween.

Gerlach was apprehended on January 6 at the Delaware County cemetery. At the time of his arrest, he was found carrying a bag filled with remains, including those of children and skulls, alongside additional bones discovered in his vehicle.

This arrest triggered a subsequent search of his home in Ephrata, Lancaster County, where investigators uncovered an extensive collection of skeletal remains exceeding 100 in number.

“Detectives stumbled upon a scene straight out of a horror film,” remarked Tanner Rouse, the Delaware County District Attorney. “It’s an astonishing situation to comprehend. Some of these remains date back 200 years, while others are much more recent, with one body still fitted with a pacemaker.”

“I grieve for those who are upset by this, who are going through it, who are trying to figure out if it is in fact their loved one or their child, because we found remains that we believe to be months old infants among those that he had collected,” added Rouse.

Delaware County DA holds news conference on gravesite thefts on Jan. 8, 2026.

Police believe the remains were also taken from other cemeteries throughout the region. They are also investigating a Facebook group titled “Human Bones and Skull Selling Group,” where Gerlach was tagged and pictured holding a skull.

“Very simply, detectives have recovered an awful lot of bones at this point, and we are still trying to piece together who they are, where they are from, and how many we are looking at. It’s going to be quite some time before we have a final answer,” said Rouse.

Authorities said they do not yet know if any remains were sold or why Gerlach wanted them.

“The remains were in various states,” Rouse said. “Some were hanging as it were. Some were pieced together, some were skulls on a shelf.”

Pa. man accused of stealing over 100 human skeletons from cemetery
Pa. man accused of stealing over 100 human skeletons from cemetery

Yeadon Police Chief Henry Giammarco called the case one of the most disturbing he has ever seen.

“Rest in peace is rest in peace, and this is definitely something that tears at your heartstrings,” Giammarco said.

Police are working to identify the remains and notify families. Gerlach is being held on $1 million bail.

The investigation remains ongoing.

The Delaware County District Attorney’s Office urges anyone with additional information to contact Detective Leah Cesanek at 610-623-1500 or Detective Chris Karr at 610-891-4700.

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