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A man accused of breaking into a historic cemetery near Philadelphia was found with about 100 human skulls, mummified body parts and decomposing torsos, after investigators linked him to a series of grave robberies stretching back weeks, authorities said. The suspect, Jonathan Christ Gerlach, 34, was arrested near Mount Moriah Cemetery, an abandoned burial ground on the city’s outskirts, where at least 26 mausoleums and underground vaults have been forced open since early November.The case came to a head when officers noticed bones and skulls visible inside a vehicle parked near the cemetery, prompting further investigation. Searches of Gerlach’s home in Ephrata and a storage unit uncovered more than 100 human skulls, long bones, mummified hands and feet, and two decomposing torsos, most of them stored in a basement, according to prosecutors.Delaware County District Attorney Tanner Rouse said the remains were in varying conditions. Some were intact, others partially assembled, and some consisted only of skulls placed on shelves. Jewellery believed to have been taken from graves was also recovered, and in at least one instance, a pacemaker was still attached, indicating that not all of the burials were extremely old.Investigators said Gerlach became a suspect after licence-plate data showed his vehicle had repeatedly been near the cemetery during the period of the break-ins. He was arrested as he returned to his car carrying a crowbar and a burlap bag, which authorities say contained mummified remains of two small children, three skulls and additional bones.According to police, Gerlach told investigators he had taken about 30 sets of human remains and showed them some of the graves he allegedly targeted. Authorities said the total number of remains recovered is still being assessed and could be higher.Founded in 1855, Mount Moriah Cemetery spans roughly 160 acres and is believed to contain around 150,000 graves, making it one of the largest abandoned burial grounds in the country. Police say the suspect focused on sealed vaults and mausoleums, damaging stonework to access remains inside.Prosecutors said the motive remains unclear, and they have declined to speculate while the investigation continues. “Given the scale of what we are dealing with, it is difficult at this stage to say exactly why this happened,” Rouse said.Gerlach has been charged with 100 counts each of abuse of a corpse and receiving stolen property, along with multiple counts of burglary, theft, trespassing, and desecration of a historic burial place and venerated objects. He is being held on $1 million bond. Court records do not list an attorney representing him.Authorities said identifying the remains and returning them to their original burial sites is expected to be a lengthy process, given the number involved and the age of many of the graves.
