A Pennsylvania man has been arrested for allegedly stealing human remains from graves near Philadelphia, with authorities claiming he possessed more than 100 corpses.
Police said 34-year-old Jonathan Gerlach was caught at Mount Moriah Cemetery in Yeadon on January 6, where detectives discovered bones and skulls inside his vehicle. A subsequent search of his home and storage unit reportedly uncovered hundreds of skeletal remains, including skulls, long bones, and other body parts, some believed to belong to children and infants.
Prosecutors said the remains ranged from centuries old to relatively recent and were taken from mausoleums and underground vaults. Jewellery and other items linked to graves were also recovered.
Gerlach has been charged with 496 counts, including abuse of a corpse, theft, burglary, trespass, and desecration of burial sites, as investigations continue to identify the remains and their origins.