Post by : Meena Ariff

Bones and skulls spotted on the back seat of a car near an abandoned cemetery outside Philadelphia led police to uncover a basement filled with human remains. Authorities say these remains were collected by a man now accused of stealing approximately 100 sets of human bones.

The arrest followed a months-long investigation into a series of break-ins at Mount Moriah Cemetery, where at least 26 mausoleums and vaults had been forcibly opened since early November. Investigators searched the home and storage unit of 34-year-old Jonathan Christ Gerlach, discovering more than 100 human skulls, long bones, mummified hands and feet, two decomposing torsos, and other skeletal parts.

According to officials, some remains were hanging or pieced together, while others were simply skulls placed on shelves. Many of the bones were found in the basement alongside jewelry believed to have been taken from the graves. In one case, a pacemaker was still attached to a body part.

Police say Gerlach targeted mausoleums and underground vaults within the 160-acre, abandoned Mount Moriah Cemetery, which contains an estimated 150,000 graves. The cemetery has experienced numerous break-ins, with stonework damaged and vaults forced open to access older burials.

The investigation escalated when officers tracked Gerlach’s movements and found he had frequently been near the cemetery during the time of the thefts. He was arrested while walking back to his vehicle carrying a crowbar and a burlap bag containing the mummified remains of two small children, three skulls, and other bones.

Gerlach confessed to taking about 30 sets of remains and showed authorities the graves he had stolen from. The motive behind the large-scale theft remains unclear as the investigation continues.

He faces 100 counts each of abuse of a corpse and receiving stolen property, along with charges of desecrating public monuments and burial sites, burglary, trespassing, and theft. Gerlach is currently held on a $1 million bond.

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