Man Apprehended for Thefts of Over 100 Human Remains from Cemetery

The sight of bones and skulls in a car near an abandoned cemetery prompted police to uncover a chilling scene in a basement filled with human remains. Authorities have charged a man accused of pilfering around 100 sets of human bones.

This arrest concluded a protracted investigation into multiple break-ins at Mount Moriah Cemetery, where at least 26 mausoleums and vaults had been forcibly accessed since November. Authorities searched the property of 34-year-old Jonathan Christ Gerlach, where they discovered an alarming trove: over 100 human skulls, long bones, mummified hands and feet, two decomposing torsos, and additional skeletal remains.

Some remains were found assembled in disturbing configurations, while others were piled as mere skulls on shelves. The basement also contained jewelry believed to be looted from graves, and in one instance, a pacemaker was still attached to a body part.

According to police, Gerlach specifically targeted the mausoleums and underground vaults of the expansive 160-acre Mount Moriah Cemetery, which is home to an estimated 150,000 graves. The site has seen a series of break-ins, resulting in damaged stonework and forced-open vaults to access older burials.

The investigation intensified when officers tracked Gerlach, noting his frequent presence at the cemetery during the period of the thefts. He was apprehended while returning to his vehicle, carrying a crowbar and a burlap sack that contained the mummified remains of two small children, three skulls, and other bones.

Upon interrogation, Gerlach admitted to stealing around 30 sets of remains and indicated the graves from which they were taken. The underlying motives for these extensive thefts remain a mystery as investigations continue.

He is currently facing 100 counts of abuse of a corpse and receiving stolen property, alongside charges of desecrating public monuments and burial sites, burglary, trespassing, and theft. Gerlach is being held on a bond of $1 million.