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New Delhi: A routine investigation into cemetery vandalism in Philadelphia's outskirts unmasked a stomach-churning hoard of human remains in a suburban Pennsylvania home in the US. Jonathan Christ Gerlach, 34, is now facing a mountain of criminal charges after authorities discovered approximately 100 sets of human remains, including skulls, mummified limbs, and decomposing torsos, stashed in his basement and storage unit.
Gerlach’s vehicle near cemetery
The dreadful trail began at Mount Moriah Cemetery, a sprawling, 160-acre abandoned landmark on the outskirts of Philadelphia. Police had been investigating a string of burglaries at the historic site since November, where at least 26 sealed mausoleums and vaults had been violently smashed open.
The breakthrough came Tuesday night when investigators spotted Gerlach’s vehicle near the cemetery. Inside the car, bones and skulls were clearly visible in the back seat. Gerlach was arrested as he walked toward the vehicle, wielding a crowbar and carrying a burlap bag. Inside that bag, officers discovered the mummified remains of two small children, three skulls, and various other bones, according to the news agency Associated Press.
“They 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,” Delaware County District Attorney Tanner Rouse was quoted as saying by news agency AP.
Stolen jewellery and personal items recovered
Investigators also recovered stolen jewellery and personal items, including a pacemaker still attached to remains, which Gerlach allegedly stripped from the dead.
Gerlach allegedly admitted to stealing about 30 sets of remains
Gerlach reportedly targeted the oldest sections of Mount Moriah, a 1855 burial ground that is considered the largest abandoned cemetery in the United States. With over 150,000 grave sites, the overgrown landmark provided a quiet cover for his crimes. Gerlach allegedly admitted to stealing about 30 sets of remains and even showed police the specific vaults he had violated. However, the physical evidence suggests the number of victims is significantly higher.
“Given the enormity of what we are looking at and the sheer, utter lack of reasonable explanation, it's difficult to say right now, at this juncture, exactly what took place. We're trying to figure it out,” Rouse told reporters, suggesting the investigation is going on.
Long list of charges against Gerlach
The sheer volume of the theft has resulted in a long list of charges. Gerlach has been hit with 100 counts of abuse of a corpse, 100 counts of receiving stolen property, multiple counts of burglary, trespassing, and theft and Charges for desecrating public monuments and historic burial places.
Gerlach is currently held in jail on a 1 million dollars bond. As of now, no motive has been established for the hoarding of the remains, with DA Rouse stating, "We’re trying to figure it out."
