A Man's Odd Collection: The Mysterious Case of Stolen Remains

In a bizarre turn of events, a man in Pennsylvania has been accused of stealing and hoarding human remains from an old cemetery. Police found over 100 skulls, bones, and even mummified body parts in his basement and storage unit.

The Suspect and the Crime

The man, identified as Jonathan Christ Gerlach, is said to have targeted an abandoned cemetery, breaking into mausoleums and vaults to take the remains.

The investigation started after police noticed bones and skulls in the back seat of a car near the cemetery. This led them to Gerlach, who had been visiting the area frequently. When they searched his home, they found a shocking collection of human remains, some of which were hanging or pieced together. There was even jewelry and a pacemaker still attached to some of the remains.

The Cemetery and the Evidence

Gerlach admitted to taking about 30 sets of human remains and showed investigators the graves he stole from. The cemetery, known as Mount Moriah, is the largest abandoned burial ground in the country. It's home to around 150,000 grave sites, making it a prime target for grave robbers.

Police say Gerlach used tools like a crowbar to break into sealed vaults and mausoleums. He was arrested while carrying a burlap bag filled with more remains, including those of two small children.

The Aftermath and the Charges

The district attorney described the case as unusual and difficult to understand, stating that they are still trying to figure out what motivated Gerlach to do this.

Gerlach now faces multiple charges, including abuse of a corpse, theft, and burglary. He is being held on a $1 million bond, and no lawyer has been listed in court records. The case raises many questions about the man's intentions and the security of abandoned cemeteries.