News headlines were going nuts this past January 2026 with disturbing headlines: Corpses discovered in someone’s home. For months, police in Pennsylvania were receiving reports of graves and mausoleums being desecrated and robbed around the Philadelphia, Yeadon area. Not only were treasured items taken, like jewelry or clothing but the remains themselves had also been taken. A tip pointed them in the direction of 34 year old Jonathan Gerlach. After being caught in the act, a search of his home revealed more horrors than anyone could have anticipated. Jonathan currently sits in custody held on over 500 charges of theft, burglary and abuse of a corpse. In this bonus episode we will go over what is currently known about this recent case developing in Pennsylvania.
Sources:
“Court docs reveal accused grave robber's months-long plot to steal human remains” by Amanda Pitts on ABC 6 Action News on January 9, 2026 (https://6abc.com/post/jonathan-gerlach-case-court-docs-reveal-accused-grave-robbers-months-long-plot-steal-human-remains-pa/18379190/)
“100 skulls and mummified body parts found in a Pennsylvania grave robbery case, police say” by Mark Scolforo on KSAT.com on January 9, 2026 (https://www.ksat.com/news/national/2026/01/08/100-skulls-and-mummified-body-parts-found-in-a-pennsylvania-grave-robbery-case-police-say/)
“Yeadon Police Department Announces Arrest of Jonathan Gerlach for Mount Moriah Cemetery Grave Burglaries” on Yeadon Borough Website (https://yeadonborough.com/arrest-of-jonathan-gerlach-for-mount-moriah-cemetery-grave-burglaries/)
“'Amish Country's Ed Gein': Inside Jonathan Gerlach's grave robbing crimes” by Kimberleigh Anderson on Bakersfield Now on January 15, 2026 (https://bakersfieldnow.com/criminally-obsessed/jonathan-gerlach-anne-emerson-joseph-scott-morgan-criminally-obsessed)
“Accused Pennsylvania grave robber waives hearing ahead of grisly summer trial” by Jackson Healy on Court House News Service on April 17, 2026 (https://www.courthousenews.com/accused-pennsylvania-grave-robber-waives-hearing-ahead-of-grisly-summer-trial/)
“More charges added for accused Pennsylvania grave robber Jonathan Gerlach” by Joe Holden on CBS News on April 17, 2026 (https://www.cbsnews.com/philadelphia/news/jonathan-gerlach-grave-robber-pennsylvania/)
Yeadon Police Chief Henry Giammarco - HGiammarco@yeadonpd.org
