A man, identified as Jonathan Gerlach, has been arrested and charged with stealing over 100 skulls following a disturbing discovery inside a residence. The police found bones, mummified body parts, decomposing torsos, and skeletal remains in what they described as a scene resembling a horror movie. Gerlach, aged 34 and residing in Pennsylvania, faces more than 500 charges related to desecrating gravesites and mausoleums after authorities investigated break-ins at the Mount Moriah Cemetery near Philadelphia.
Delaware County District Attorney Tanner Rouse disclosed that the remains were found in Gerlach’s basement and a separate storage unit. He detailed the gruesome scene encountered by officers, mentioning that the remains were in various conditions, with some hanging, pieced together, or placed on shelves.
It is alleged that Gerlach specifically targeted the 160-acre cemetery, where approximately 150,000 individuals have been laid to rest. The motive behind the collection of these remains, some dating back hundreds of years, remains unclear. Shockingly, some of the skulls and body parts belonged to children, including infants just a few months old at the time of death, as confirmed by the County District Attorney.
Rouse expressed the challenges faced in identifying the remains, stating that detectives are still working to determine the origins and total count of the recovered bones. The investigation painted a grim picture, with Rouse likening it to a real-life horror movie due to the age discrepancies among the remains.
Authorities also recovered jewelry believed to be connected to the Pennsylvania cemetery and found a pacemaker on one of the bodies. Rouse extended sympathies to those affected by the situation, especially families grappling with the uncertainty of whether their loved ones are among the recovered remains, which include infants.
Gerlach was apprehended as he left the cemetery towards his vehicle holding a crowbar. His arrest followed a probe initiated around Halloween when multiple mausoleums and vaults at the cemetery were found forcibly opened. Court records indicate that Gerlach faces numerous charges, including theft, receiving stolen property, and abuse of a corpse, in addition to offenses related to desecrating historical burial grounds and public monuments.