A man, identified as Jonathan Gerlach, has been accused of stealing over 100 skulls following a disturbing revelation inside a residence. The 34-year-old from Pennsylvania is facing more than 500 charges for allegedly desecrating gravesites and mausoleums at Mount Moriah Cemetery in Yeadon, near Philadelphia.
Law enforcement discovered bones, mummified hands and feet, decomposing torsos, and parts of skeletons in what was described as a scene resembling a “horror movie come to life.” The remains were found in Gerlach’s basement and a separate storage unit, prompting an intense investigation.
Authorities mentioned that the suspect apparently targeted the 160-acre cemetery where approximately 150,000 individuals have been buried. Some of the discovered skulls and remains belonged to children, including infants just a few months old at the time of their passing.
Delaware County District Attorney Tanner Rouse expressed the complexity of the case, stating that detectives are still working to identify the origins and number of the recovered bones, many of which are centuries old. The investigation also revealed jewelry believed to be connected to the cemetery and even a body with a pacemaker.
Gerlach was apprehended as police observed him leaving the cemetery with a crowbar. The arrest came after an inquiry initiated around Halloween when multiple mausoleums and vaults at the cemetery were found to have been forcibly opened.
Court records show that Gerlach faces charges including theft, receiving stolen property, abuse of a corpse, desecration of a historic burial place, and desecration of a public monument. The investigation continues as authorities work to unravel the disturbing events surrounding the case.