A Pennsylvania man is facing nearly 575 charges after police discovered over 100 pieces of human remains in his possession, including skulls, mummified feet, and headless torsos. Jonathan Gerlach, 34, was arrested on Tuesday after being seen leaving Mount Moriah Cemetery in Yeadon with a crowbar and a burlap sack containing children's mummified remains and skulls.
Authorities found additional remains at his home in Ephrata, about 70 miles away, as well as in his car and a storage locker. Delaware County District Attorney Tanner Rouse described the scene as 'a horror movie come to life', with bones in the basement, on shelves, and hanging from the ceiling.
Gerlach is accused of breaking into at least 26 mausoleums and burial vaults at Mount Moriah Cemetery over several months. Police linked him to the crimes through licence plate readers and cellphone records. He allegedly admitted to stealing at least 30 sets of human remains from the cemetery.
Among the recovered items was a skeleton with a cardiac pacemaker still attached. Investigators are working to identify the remains, some of which are believed to be centuries old. Rouse expressed sympathy for families concerned that their loved ones may have been disturbed, noting that some remains appear to be from infants.
Gerlach faces charges including corpse abuse, theft, burglary, and desecration of venerated objects. He is being held on $1m bail and is due in court on 20 January. No attorney has been listed for him.
