PA - Jonathan Christ Gerlach, 34, grave robbery - months-long investigation, Ephrata *arrest 6 Jan 2026*

[ivylambs]

I wonder if he truly does have certification and qualifications. Obviously not for blatant smash and grab grave robbing, there's nothing legal about that.

But what he seems to be offering here is a kind of service that could be the equivalent of forging provenance for stolen or forged artwork. If he does have a degree or certification, he could potentially use that to create reports or documentation to make illegally obtained remains seem above board.

MOO

I noticed that he marked an animal skull he was selling as “Ethically Sourced”. Can’t say the same about the human ones… but I’m guessing he was doing some legitimate business to keep people from questioning the illegitimate parts.

 

[iamshadow21]

I noticed that he marked an animal skull he was selling as “Ethically Sourced”. Can’t say the same about the human ones… but I’m guessing he was doing some legitimate business to keep people from questioning the illegitimate parts.

For all we know he dug it up from some poor pet's grave. He probably considered it ethically sourced because he didn't kill it himself.

I don't think he and ethics are acquainted.

MOO

 

[Deleted member 369619]

This guy is a real ghoul. MOO

 

[TwinkieDefense]

Jan 15, 2026 article - website also includes a video

'Amish Country's Ed Gein': Inside Jonathan Gerlach's grave robbing crimes

Is this Amish country’s Ed Gein?A metalhead from Lancaster County, Pennsylvania is at the center of a case that investigators describe as a real-life horror mov

katu.com

[…]

Gerlach is facing more than 500 criminal charges, including multiple counts of abuse of a corpse.

[…]

 

[TwinkieDefense]

Jan 12, 2026 article

Families want answers after more than 100 skeletons found in Pa. home

Yeadon Police Chief Henry Giammarco said he spent much of the weekend responding to more than 60 messages from people with relatives buried at Mt. Moriah Cemetery.

6abc.com

[…]

Gerlach's preliminary hearing, originally scheduled for Jan. 20, has been postponed. He faces more than 500 charges.

[…]

 

[ivylambs]

This is the longest court docket I have ever seen (and I used to work in a law office).

https://ujsportal.pacourts.us/Report/MdjDocketSheet?docketNumber=MJ-32247-CR-0000006-2026&dnh=ulU%2FETiecJDSOxy28aWw4g%3D%3D

 

[DS2021]

In a twist that shocked nobody, hes now being linked to grave robbings in other cemeteries.

Man accused of stealing human remains faces new charges

Jonathan Gerlach, 34, is facing hundreds of charges related to the theft of human remains from a Delaware County cemetery and is scheduled for a court hearing Friday.

www.wgal.com

New charges
Two new burglary charges were filed against Gerlach, one in Luzerne County and the other in Lancaster County, officials said during Friday's hearing.

News 8’s Baylee Martin was at the courthouse and will continue to report the latest information throughout the day.

Investigators have also linked a cemetery in Luzerne County to the Gerlach investigation

 

[Bounceycat]

In a twist that shocked nobody, hes now being linked to grave robbings in other cemeteries.

Man accused of stealing human remains faces new charges

Jonathan Gerlach, 34, is facing hundreds of charges related to the theft of human remains from a Delaware County cemetery and is scheduled for a court hearing Friday.

www.wgal.com

New charges
Two new burglary charges were filed against Gerlach, one in Luzerne County and the other in Lancaster County, officials said during Friday's hearing.

News 8’s Baylee Martin was at the courthouse and will continue to report the latest information throughout the day.

Investigators have also linked a cemetery in Luzerne County to the Gerlach investigation

I've been unable to find the names of the new cemeteries in Luzerne and Lancaster counties. Has anyone else come across these?

 

[Quilty]

I've been unable to find the names of the new cemeteries in Luzerne and Lancaster counties. Has anyone else come across these?

I would also love to know the names of the other cemeteries he pillaged. I have many relatives at rest in Luzerne Co.

 

[TwinkieDefense]

April 17, 2026 article

Descendants say the theft of body parts from Pennsylvania grave sites is not a victimless crime

MEDIA — Judy Prichard McCleary believes her ancestors have gone to the afterlife, and that only their bodies are buried at the family mausoleum in a sprawling Philadelphia-area cemetery. Yet she remains rattled by the discovery that five of their nine crypts were disturbed — and the remains of a...

www.altoonamirror.com

[…]

Mount Moriah, which dates to 1855, is a 160-acre landmark on the Philadelphia-Yeadon borough line with about 150,000 grave sites.

[…]