MEDIA, Pa. (AP) — Judy Prichard McCleary is deeply distressed by the disturbance of her family's mausoleum, which is located in a sprawling cemetery in the Philadelphia area. McCleary is convinced that her ancestors' souls reside in heaven, leaving only their physical remains in the family mausoleum. However, she was shaken by the revelation that five of the nine crypts in her family's mausoleum had been violated, and the remains of a great-great-great aunt were stolen as part of a bizarre series of crimes in Pennsylvania, where over 100 bodies have reportedly been exhumed from cemeteries.
Following a brief court hearing, McCleary expressed her concerns about the situation to the press. The defendant, Jonathan Gerlach, 34, is facing two dozen burglary charges after allegedly stealing human remains from various grave sites across multiple counties. McCleary emphasized the disruption caused by such crimes, noting that they are not victimless actions. She hopes that this incident will lead to more stringent legislation regarding the sale of human body parts online—an issue that has emerged as a potential motive for Gerlach's actions.
Gerlach, a resident of Lancaster County, was arrested in January near Mount Moriah Cemetery, situated on the outskirts of Philadelphia. Authorities reportedly spotted bones and skulls in the backseat of his vehicle, prompting them to conduct a search of his home and a storage unit in Ephrata. During this search, officers discovered over 100 human skulls, alongside mummified hands, feet, jewelry believed to be connected to graves, and a pacemaker attached to a body. Gerlach's arraignment is scheduled for June 3; however, his attorney has indicated that he is unlikely to be present.
During the court appearance, Gerlach displayed a composed demeanor and was seen wearing glasses and a tightly pulled bun. He is noted to have a collar-sized tattoo surrounding his neck and responded politely to routine inquiries from the judge. Police reports indicated that Gerlach was apprehended while returning to his vehicle from Mount Moriah Cemetery, reportedly armed with a crowbar. The authorities also found the mummified remains of two small children, as well as three skulls and additional bones in a burlap sack. Gerlach allegedly confessed to the investigators, conveying that he had taken approximately 30 sets of human remains and provided details on the specific graves from which he had stolen.
Mount Moriah Cemetery, established in 1855, encompasses 160 acres and contains roughly 150,000 graves. McCleary's great-great-grandfather, Jonathan Prichard, who immigrated from Ireland, constructed the family mausoleum in the early 1900s. He was a grocer by trade, and family legends suggest that he may have invented the first paper bag, although no patent records exist to substantiate this claim.
Prichard had relocated the remains of two children who had passed away earlier into the mausoleum before joining them himself, alongside other family members, upon their deaths. McCleary expressed her profound dismay at the idea that someone could be driven to commit such a reprehensible act. She stated, "I think the man needs help," highlighting the emotional toll that this crime has taken on her family.
