Police found more than 100 skeletal remains in Pa Purush’s home

A Lancaster County man is facing more than 500 charges after investigators found more than 100 human skeletal remains in his home.

Authorities say the Tuesday night arrest of 34-year-old Jonathan Gerlach ends a months-long investigation into a break-in at Mount Moriah Cemetery in Yeadon, where at least 26 tombstones and vaults have been forced open since early November.

Police were looking into a string of thefts when an investigator checked Gerlach’s vehicle’s license plate and found he was frequently near Yeadon during the burglary period. Police say the break-ins were concentrated in cemeteries with sealed vaults and old graves, which had been opened or had damaged stonework.

He was arrested as he walked back to his car with a crowbar at the 1855 cemetery, police said, and a burlap bag in which officers found the mummified remains of two small children, three skulls and other bones.

Gerlach told investigators he took about 30 sets of human remains and showed them the graves he had stolen, police said.

Investigators said arrests led to a search of Gerlach’s home in Ephrata, Lancaster County, where they found more than 100 skeletal remains.

“The detectives in a horror movie came to life the other night. It’s an incredible sight,” said Delaware County District Attorney Tanner Rouse. “Understand, some of these are 200 years old. Some are apparently very new, with a pacemaker still attached to the body.”

“I feel sorry for those who are disturbed by this, who are going through this, who are trying to figure out if this is actually their loved one or their child, because we found the remains that we believe to be one of the months he collected,” Rouse added.

Delaware County DA holds news conference on grave robbery on January 8, 2026.

Police speculated that the remains were also taken from other graves in the area. They are also investigating a Facebook group titled “Group Selling Human Bones and Skulls,” where Gerlach was tagged and pictured holding a skull.

“Quite simply, detectives have recovered a lot of bones at this point, and we’re still trying to piece together who they are, where they came from, and how many we’re looking at. It’s going to be a long time before we get a definitive answer,” Rouse said.

Officials said they don’t yet know if any remains were sold or why Gerlach wanted them.

“The remains were in various states,” Rouse explained. “Some were hanging like zinc. Some were pieced together, some were skulls on boards.”

Neighbors were horrified after learning of the allegations.

“It’s supposed to be a nice, quaint little town, and here are some dead bodies in your house,” said Kim Hackman of Ephrata.

“I just want to know the motive, like why would someone do that?” asked Connor Barker of Ephrata.

The cemetery is considered the largest abandoned cemetery in the country, according to the Friends of Mount Moriah Cemetery, which helps maintain the 160-acre landmark in Yadon that is home to an estimated 150,000 grave sites.

Yeadon Police Chief Henry Giamarco called the case the most disturbing he has ever seen.

“Rest in peace is rest in peace, and it’s definitely a tear in your heart,” Giammarco said.

The police are working to identify the body and notify the family.

The full list of charges against Gerlach include:

• Burglary – not adapted for overnight accommodation, no person present (F1) – 26 counts

• Criminal Trespass – Enter Structure (F3) – 26 counts

• Criminal Trespass – Enter Structure (F2) – 26 counts

• Corpse Abuse (M2) – 100 counts

• Theft by Unlawful Taking (F3) – 100 counts

• Receiving Stolen Property (F3) – 100 counts

• Deliberate desecration of a public monument (M2) – 26 counts

• Intentional desecration of venerable object (M2) – 26 counts

• Willful desecration of historic lots and burial sites (M1) – 26 counts

• Criminal mischief – damage property (M3) – 26 counts

• Defiant Trespasser (S) – 7 counts

He is being held on $1 million bail. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for January 20, 2026.

The investigation is ongoing

The Delaware County District Attorney’s Office asks anyone with additional information to contact Detective Leah Cesanek at 610-623-1500 or Detective Chris Carr at 610-891-4700.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.