The discovery of 100 human skulls and other disturbing human remains has transformed a Pennsylvania criminal case into what prosecutors described as a living nightmare involving a skeleton collection unlike anything investigators had seen before. 

NBCNews.com

Authorities allege that Jonathan Gerlach, 34, systematically plundered historic cemeteries, leaving behind shattered vaults and grieving families while stockpiling bones, skulls, and decomposing remains inside his home.

A “Horror Movie Come to Life” in the Basement

According to a probable cause affidavit, investigators uncovered more than 100 human skulls, numerous long bones, mummified feet, decomposing torsos, and other remains in Gerlach’s basement in Ephrata, about 70 miles from Philadelphia. Eight additional sets of human remains were discovered in a storage locker connected to him.

Delaware County District Attorney Tanner Rouse did not mince words when describing the scope of the find.

“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,” Rouse said, adding that the process could take months or longer.

Some of the remains were hundreds of years old, while others were alarmingly recent. One set even contained a pacemaker, underscoring how modern and historic graves were allegedly targeted.

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100 Human Skulls: Emotional Toll on Communities

Beyond the sheer number of skulls and skeleton fragments, prosecutors emphasized the emotional devastation caused by the case. Authorities believe remains of infants—possibly only months old—were among those recovered.

“I grieve for those who are upset by this,” Rouse said. “Who are trying to figure out if it is, in fact, their loved one or their child.”

The uncertainty surrounding the identities of the remains has left families fearing the worst, especially those with relatives buried at Mount Moriah Cemetery.

Mount Moriah Cemetery: Skeleton Trail

Gerlach was arrested Tuesday after investigators observed him leaving Mount Moriah Cemetery carrying a burlap bag. Inside, police allege, were mummified remains of two small children, three skulls, and additional bones.

Mount Moriah, which stretches from Philadelphia into Yeadon, is a site of deep historical significance. Betsy Ross was once interred there before her remains were relocated, and soldiers from every major U.S. conflict since the Revolutionary War are buried on the grounds.

Yeadon Mayor Rohan Hepkins described the cemetery as an “inviting target” due to its lack of fencing and multiple access points, vulnerabilities that prosecutors say Gerlach exploited repeatedly.

Charges and Ongoing Investigation

From Nov. 7 through Tuesday, investigators documented damage or break-ins at 26 underground vaults and mausoleums—25 of them more than a century old. Gerlach now faces roughly 300 counts, including theft, receiving stolen property, and abuse of a corpse, along with additional charges for burglary, criminal mischief, and intentional desecration of a venerated object.

He is being held on $1 million cash bail. Court records do not list an attorney on his behalf. Authorities say Gerlach admitted stealing approximately 30 sets of remains from Mount Moriah, though they believe the 100 human skulls and other skeleton remains may have come from multiple cemeteries.

Community Response and Next Steps

In a statement, the Friends of Mount Moriah Cemetery commended law enforcement for their efforts and highlighted their ongoing cooperation throughout the investigation. The group’s mission and preservation efforts are detailed on its official site:

👉 https://www.friendsofmountmoriahcemetery.org

The case has drawn national attention, including coverage by NBC News, as investigators continue the painstaking task of identifying remains and restoring dignity to those disturbed.
👉 https://www.nbcnews.com

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