Grave Robber Steals Dead Bodies From Graveyards
by Alex Lloyd Gross
Jonathan Gerlach, 34, from Ephrata, Pennsylvania, is alleged to have went to multiple cemeteries in the state, including in Delaware County and digging up the human remains and taking them. He is charged with 26 counts of burglary, 26 counts of criminal trespass, 100 counts of abuse of corpse, 100 counts of receiving stolen property, 26 counts of intentional desecration of public monument and other related offenses, police said.
He started this bizarre rime spree in November 2025 until his arrest this week when he was caught in the act at the Mount Moriah Cemetery, in Yeadon, Delaware County. Police found multiple sets of bones in his car. The also found a pry bar, they said. Inside his house, police said they walked into a real life horror movie when they found 100 human skeletons.
Gerlach apparently was posting photos of himself on Facebook with skulls in an attempt to make himself look cool. Police now have a daunting task of trying to put the correct skeletons and human remains back in the correct resting place. Gerlach stole from multiple cematries in the state.
This case is being prosecuted in Delaware County. Gerlach is held on $1,000,000.00 cash bail, police said.