Jonathan Gerlach arrest: Cops find more than 100 skeletal remains in man’s Ephrata, Pennsylvania home

YEADON, Pa. — A Pennsylvania man is facing more than 500 charges after investigators say they discovered more than 100 human skeletal remains in his home.

Authorities said 34-year-old Jonathan Gerlach broke into mausoleums and gravesites multiple times at Mt. Moriah Cemetery in Yeadon, Pa. since Halloween.

He was arrested Jan. 6 at the Delaware County cemetery with a bag containing human remains of children and skulls, along with additional bones in his vehicle.

Investigators said the arrest led to a search of Gerlach’s home in Ephrata, Lancaster County, where they found well over 100 skeletal remains.

“Detectives walked into a horror movie come to life the other night. This is an unbelievable scene,” said Tanner Rouse, the Delaware County District Attorney. “Understand, some of these are 200 years old. Some obviously much newer, there’s one with a pacemaker still attached to the body.”

“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.

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.”

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.