A man is facing more than 500 charges after investigators say they discovered more than 100 human skeletal remains in his US home.
Jonathan Gerlach, 34, was arrested on January 6, after a month-long investigation into break-ins at Mount Moriah Cemetery in Yeadon, Pennsylvania.
Since early November, at least 26 mausoleums and vaults have been forced open, police say.
Gerlach was arrested while walking back to his car carrying a crowbar and a burlap bag, in which officers found the mummified remains of two small children, three skulls, and other bones.
He reportedly told investigators he took about 30 sets of human remains and showed them the graves he stole them from.
Bones and skulls visible in the back seat of a car near the cemetery led police to a basement filled with body parts, which authorities say were hoarded by Gerlach.
More than 100 human skulls, long bones, mummified hands and feet, two decomposing torsos and other skeletal remains were found during a search of Gerlach’s house in Ephrata, Lancaster County.
Delaware County District Attorney Tanner Rouse told news reporters: ‘Detectives walked into a horror movie come to life.
‘This [was] an unbelievable scene.
‘They [the skeletal remains] were in various states. Some of them were hanging, as it were.
‘Some of them were pieced together, some were just skulls on a shelf.’
Authorities said most of the skeletal remains were in the basement, and jewellery believed to be linked to the graves was also found.
In one case, a pacemaker was still attached to a skeleton.
Police say Gerlach targeted mausoleums and underground vaults at the cemetery, which is considered the country’s largest abandoned burial ground.
During an investigation into the string of burglaries, an investigator checked Gerlach’s vehicle plates and found he had been near Yeadon repeatedly during the time period the thefts took place.
Authorities are also investigating a Facebook group titled ‘Human Bones and Skull Selling Group’, where Gerlach was tagged and pictured holding a skull.
An Instagram account was also found to contain several of the same images of Gerlach alongside more than 100 images of skulls, Courthouse News Service reported.
Human skulls appear to be shown with captions indicating the bones were for sale.
They do not yet know if any remains were sold or why Gerlach wanted them.
Gerlach was charged with 100 counts each of abuse of a corpse and receiving stolen property, as well as multiple counts of desecrating a public monument, desecrating a venerated object, desecrating a historic burial place, burglary, trespassing, and theft.
He is jailed on a $1 million bond.
In an official statement, Yeadon Borough Police Department said: ‘The Yeadon Borough Police Department, in partnership with the Delaware County District Attorney’s Office Criminal Investigation Division, has made an arrest in connection with multiple grave burglaries at Mount Moriah Cemetery.
‘Following an extensive and ongoing investigation, Jonathan Christian Gerlach of Lancaster County was arrested and charged with numerous offenses, including burglary, criminal trespass, abuse of corpse, theft, and desecration of venerated objects. Bail has been set at $1 million cash.
‘This investigation remains active, as additional locations are being searched for human remains. We remind the public that all individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
‘This was a horrific crime that deeply impacted our community. I want to thank Detective Leah Cesanek and the entire Yeadon Borough Police Department, along with our many law enforcement partners, for their tireless dedication.
‘We are also grateful to the Friends of Mount Moriah Cemetery for their cooperation from the very beginning.
‘This case highlights the importance of agencies working together to pursue justice and protect the dignity of those who can no longer speak for themselves.’
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