Delaware County authorities say investigators found more than 100 human skulls and other remains at the home of 34-year-old Jonathan Gerlach after his arrest for alleged break-ins at Mount Moriah Cemetery. Eight additional sets of remains were located in a storage locker, and some material ranged from centuries old to months-old infant remains; one set included a pacemaker that may aid identification. Gerlach faces roughly 300 charges, including theft and abuse of a corpse, and is held on $1 million cash bail as forensic work continues to determine origins and identities.
Over 100 Human Skulls and Other Remains Found in Home of Pennsylvania Man Accused of Cemetery Desecration
Mount Moriah Cemetery in Yeadon, Pa. (NBC Philadelphia)
Delaware County prosecutors say investigators uncovered more than 100 human skulls and numerous other human remains at the Ephrata home of 34-year-old Jonathan Gerlach after he was arrested in connection with alleged break-ins at Mount Moriah Cemetery.
What Was Found
Searches of Gerlach's house revealed a large cache of human remains in the basement, including over 100 skulls, numerous long bones, mummified feet, decomposing torsos and other material. Authorities also located eight additional sets of remains in a storage locker linked to Gerlach.
Prosecutors' Statements
Delaware County District Attorney Tanner Rouse said investigators encountered what he described as "a horror movie come to life" and that "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."
Rouse added that some remains appear to be centuries old while others are much more recent. One set included a pacemaker, which investigators said could help determine identity and time of death. He also said remains believed to be from months-old infants were among the material recovered.
Arrest, Charges and Bail
Gerlach, 34, was arrested Tuesday as he was leaving Mount Moriah Cemetery, a large burial ground that stretches from Philadelphia into nearby Yeadon. Investigators allege they observed him leaving the cemetery carrying a burlap bag that contained the mummified remains of two small children, three skulls and other bones.
Court records show Gerlach faces roughly 300 counts, including theft, receiving stolen property and abuse of a corpse, plus dozens more charges such as criminal mischief, burglary and intentional desecration of a venerated object. He is being held on $1 million cash bail. Court records do not list an attorney for Gerlach who could comment publicly.
Alleged Cemetery Damage and Ongoing Investigation
The affidavit says that between Nov. 7 and the arrest date, 26 underground vaults and mausoleums at Mount Moriah were broken into or damaged; 25 of those sites are more than a century old. Prosecutors say the remains recovered at Gerlach's properties likely originated from multiple cemeteries in the region, though officials have not yet confirmed all sources.
Local Response
Yeadon Mayor Rohan Hepkins noted the cemetery — where historic figures and veterans are buried — lacks a perimeter fence and has many points of easy access. Members of the Friends of Mount Moriah Cemetery, a nonprofit that helps preserve the site, reported the apparent desecrations to police and later thanked the district attorney's office and local departments for their work in the investigation.
Next Steps
Investigators continue forensic examinations to identify victims, determine when remains were taken, and establish whether other sites were affected. Authorities have cautioned that identification will take time and urged anyone with information about missing graves or family members to contact law enforcement.
Note: The investigation is ongoing and authorities have not released a final tally of remains or confirmed the provenance of all recovered material.
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