Story perspectives

Man Faces 575 Charges for Stealing Cemetery Remains

1/11/2026

Summary

Story summary

Jonathan Gerlach faces nearly 575 charges for stealing and desecrating human remains from Mount Moriah Cemetery in Pennsylvania while being held on $1 million bail.
Authorities found more than 100 remains, including skulls and mummified feet, in Gerlach's car, home, and storage unit.
Gerlach allegedly confessed to stealing at least 30 sets of remains.
Gerlach used a crowbar to access graves.
Investigators are identifying the remains, including infants.

History

Historical Context

The Burial Grounds Protection Act, passed by the New York State Legislature in 1869, aimed to combat cemetery desecration, particularly by grave robbers seeking anatomical specimens. This historical struggle resonates today, as Jonathan Gerlach's recent theft of over 100 human remains from Mount Moriah Cemetery underscores ongoing ethical debates about the treatment of the deceased and the preservation of burial sites.

1 of 2

Story summary

Jonathan Gerlach faces nearly 575 charges for stealing and desecrating human remains from Mount Moriah Cemetery in Pennsylvania while being held on $1 million bail.
Authorities found more than 100 remains, including skulls and mummified feet, in Gerlach's car, home, and storage unit.
Gerlach allegedly confessed to stealing at least 30 sets of remains.
Gerlach used a crowbar to access graves.
Investigators are identifying the remains, including infants.

1 / 2