🚨 HORROR IN PENNSYLVANIA: A 34-year-old man was caught selling human bones on Facebook — leading police to uncover a chilling “museum of death” hidden in his basement! 😱🕸️

Jonathan Gerlach allegedly stole over 100 sets of remains from historic graves, including skulls, bones, and more — turning his Ephrata home into a macabre collection that shocked investigators. Some items were even displayed on shelves and hanging… a scene straight out of a nightmare.

Authorities say he admitted to selling some online through groups for “oddities.” How did this go on for months? Families of the deceased are devastated, demanding answers and better cemetery security.

Full details:

A months-long investigation into repeated break-ins at a historic Philadelphia-area cemetery has culminated in the arrest of 34-year-old Jonathan Gerlach, who now faces more than 500 criminal charges after authorities discovered over 100 sets of human skeletal remains in his Ephrata home and a nearby storage unit. The case, which began with surveillance at Mount Moriah Cemetery in Yeadon, Delaware County, has horrified communities across Pennsylvania and beyond, raising questions about cemetery security and the underground market for human remains.

Gerlach, of Ephrata in Lancaster County, was taken into custody on January 6, 2026, after detectives spotted bones and skulls visible in the back seat of his Toyota RAV4 near the cemetery. Officers observed him leaving the grounds carrying a crowbar and a burlap bag containing mummified remains of two small children, three skulls, and other bones. Gerlach allegedly admitted to taking about 30 sets of remains and even pointed out specific graves he targeted, according to court documents cited by multiple outlets including The Guardian, CNN, and NBC Philadelphia.

The probe traced back to November 2025, when tips led investigators to monitor Mount Moriah, a sprawling 19th-century burial ground spanning Philadelphia and Delaware counties with approximately 150,000 interments dating to 1855. Police identified at least 26 mausoleums and underground vaults that had been forced open between early November 2025 and January 2026. Evidence included discarded energy drink cans, cigarette butts, and license plate reader hits linking Gerlach’s vehicle to the site repeatedly.

A subsequent search of Gerlach’s home on Washington Avenue in Ephrata revealed what Delaware County District Attorney Tanner Rouse described as a scene resembling “a horror movie come to life.” Investigators recovered more than 100 human skulls, long bones, mummified hands and feet, two decomposing torsos (one still bearing a pacemaker), and additional skeletal items. Some remains were reportedly on shelves, reconstructed, or hanging from the ceiling in the basement. Eight more sets were found in a storage locker on East Main Street. The collection included remains from infants to adults, some over 200 years old.

Gerlach allegedly confessed during questioning that he had sold some of the remains online, though he claimed the majority stayed in his basement. Detectives linked him to a Facebook group called “Human Bones and Skull Selling,” where a member thanked him for an item, per affidavits reported by NBC Philadelphia and WHP-TV. His Instagram reportedly followed accounts related to taxidermy, skeleton collecting, and “oddities” sales. A tipster also claimed Gerlach had traveled to Chicago to sell a human skull.

Charges against Gerlach include 100 counts each of abuse of a corpse and receiving stolen property, plus multiple counts of burglary, criminal trespass, intentional desecration of a public monument, desecration of a venerated object, desecration of a historic burial place, and theft. He is held on $1 million bail.

The case has sparked outrage among families with loved ones buried at Mount Moriah. Cemetery officials are soliciting donations to enhance security, including better fencing and surveillance. Relatives expressed heartbreak over the disturbance of final resting places, with some drawing parallels to past high-profile body theft rings.

This isn’t the first such incident in Pennsylvania. Experts note a niche but illegal market for human remains among collectors of “oddities,” though federal and state laws strictly prohibit the sale or possession of stolen remains. In a related development, Jeremy Pauley — a Pennsylvania man previously sentenced for trafficking stolen human remains — commented on the Gerlach case, describing the Ephrata find as not “normal” even for bone collectors, according to WGAL.

Authorities are also probing potential connections to break-ins at Good Shepherd Memorial Cemetery in Luzerne County, where two crypts were emptied around November 2025. DNA testing on cigarette butts and cans found near the site is ongoing.

Gerlach’s background remains limited in public reports; he has no prior criminal history mentioned in initial coverage. The investigation continues, with forensic teams processing the vast collection to identify victims where possible and return remains respectfully.

The Mount Moriah case highlights vulnerabilities in abandoned or under-maintained cemeteries, some of which have fallen into disrepair over decades. Community leaders and law enforcement urge vigilance, with tips from the public credited for cracking the case.

As proceedings move forward, the focus remains on accountability for the alleged desecration and the emotional toll on grieving families. Gerlach’s alleged actions have turned a quiet suburban home into a symbol of one of the most disturbing crimes imaginable — the theft and commodification of the dead.

Whether driven by obsession, profit, or something else, the discovery has left Pennsylvania residents stunned. For now, the priority is justice, restoration of dignity to the remains, and prevention of future violations in places meant for eternal peace.