
Pennsylvania man accused of stealing more than 100 corpses waives hearing ahead of trial
A Pennsylvania man accused of stealing more than 100 corpses and human remains waived his preliminary hearing Friday, clearing the way for a summer trial in a case that has drawn widespread attention. Jonathan Christian Gerlach, 34, of Ephrata, appeared in Delaware County court for the first time since his Jan. 6 arrest, wearing a yellow jail jumpsuit and handcuffs as he formally waived the hearing before District Judge W. Keith Williams II. He faces more than 500 state charges, including theft, burglary, abuse of a corpse, and desecration of a public monument, stemming from allegations that he broke into mausoleums and underground vaults at Mount Moriah Cemetery, a historic burial ground spanning Yeadon and southwest Philadelphia.
Prosecutors dropped four burglary counts tied to Mount Moriah on Friday but added two new burglary charges from other Pennsylvania counties, though details were not immediately released. Authorities allege that more than 100 human skulls, bones, and mummified remains were discovered at Gerlach’s home and a storage unit, ranging from children to adults, with some remains believed to be more than 200 years old. Investigators have also examined his online activity, including deleted accounts allegedly linked to groups discussing the buying and selling of human remains. He remains held on $1 million bail as defense attorneys continue proceedings that could lead to a negotiated resolution before trial.
The case has also prompted renewed calls for tighter restrictions on the handling and sale of human remains. Family members who attended Friday’s court hearing said they were notified that their ancestral burial site at Mount Moriah was among those allegedly disturbed, with one family reporting that a relative’s remains were taken. They are now urging lawmakers to strengthen protections for burial sites and regulate the online trade of human remains, warning that without stricter oversight, similar incidents could happen again.
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