A man from Pennsylvania is facing nearly 600 criminal charges after authorities reportedly uncovered over 100 sets of skeletal human remains in his possession.

Jonathan Gerlach, 34, was taken into custody on Tuesday amid an investigation into alleged thefts at the historic Mount Moriah Cemetery in Yeadon, located on the southwestern edge of Philadelphia. According to a release from the Delaware County District Attorney’s Office, detectives began probing incidents of grave desecration that surfaced in early November 2025. Following two months of surveillance, Gerlach was reportedly caught red-handed, “leaving the cemetery with a burlap bag, crowbar, and various other items.”

Officers reported finding “numerous bones and skulls” visibly placed in the back seat of his car. A local news outlet, the Daily Times, cited an affidavit revealing that the burlap bag contained “two mummified remains of young children, three skulls, and various other bones.”

The investigation expanded beyond this discovery. A search warrant led police to Gerlach’s residence in Ephrata, Pennsylvania, where they reportedly uncovered over 100 “complete or partial” human remains. Most of these were skeletal, though some were still in the process of decomposition. Notably, one set of remains was found with a pacemaker still attached. Additionally, a search of a storage unit purportedly revealed eight more sets of remains.

According to the affidavit, detectives monitored Gerlach’s vehicle and phone after he emerged as a suspect in the cemetery thefts. Authorities noted that a license plate matching Gerlach’s Toyota RAV4 was frequently spotted near the cemetery during November and December 2025.

Police stated that Gerlach’s phone records showed his number pinging off towers near the cemetery on several dates beginning on Oct. 31, 2025.

When police caught Gerlach at the cemetery on Tuesday, they said he surrendered without incident. Police said he then demonstrated how he opened the graves with a crowbar. During an interview with police, Gerlach admitted to taking 30 sets of remains from Mount Moriah Cemetery. Police brought him back to the historic site on Wednesday, where he showed them seven locations from which he allegedly took 15 sets of remains.

During a press conference on Thursday that was covered by local NBC affiliate WCAU, Delaware County District Attorney Tanner Rouse said, “Detectives walked into a horror movie come to life the other night, guys.” He stated that some of the sets of remains were more than 100 years old, and some of the remains belonged to “months-old infants” and children. Rouse said authorities will be working to identify the remains, but said, “It is going to be quite some time before we have a final answer.”

Rouse confirmed that investigators are looking into social media groups that Gerlach is connected with, including one that purports to sell human skeletal remains. Authorities believe that Gerlach acted alone, but Rouse said he was living with a girlfriend who was “at least around the home” where the human remains were found.

Rouse added, “Our hearts go out to every family that is impacted by this.”

Gerlach was charged with a total of 574 counts, including 100 counts each of abuse of a corpse, theft by unlawful taking, and receiving stolen property; 26 counts of felony burglary; and 52 counts each of felony criminal trespass and misdemeanor intentional desecration. He remains in custody on $1 million cash bail. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Jan. 20.