Overview
- Police arrested Jonathan Christ Gerlach, 34, after surveillance at Mount Moriah Cemetery led officers to human remains in his vehicle and then to caches at his home and storage unit.
- Investigators reported seizing more than 100 human skulls along with long bones, mummified hands and feet, two decomposing torsos, and jewelry believed taken from graves.
- Prosecutors charged Gerlach with extensive counts that include 100 counts of abuse of a corpse and 100 counts of receiving stolen property, and he is jailed on $1 million bail.
- Authorities say at least 26 mausoleums and vaults at the 19th‑century cemetery were forced open in recent months, and Gerlach told investigators he removed about 30 sets of remains.
- Detectives are cataloging the remains, pursuing forensic identification that could include DNA and device serial numbers such as pacemakers, and probing possible links to online bone‑selling groups.