The Bone Collector of Mount Moriah: Inside Pennsylvania’s Most Disturbing Grave Robbery Case

The Bone Collector of Mount Moriah: Inside Pennsylvania’s Most Disturbing Grave Robbery Case


In January 2026, police officers conducting surveillance at Mount Moriah Cemetery made a discovery that stunned even the most experienced investigators.

A man was arrested on the cemetery grounds carrying human remains. What followed would become one of the most disturbing grave-robbery investigations in modern American history.

In this episode of Tier Talk, we examine the Mount Moriah grave robbery case involving Jonathan Christ Gerlach — from the first breached mausoleums discovered by volunteers, to the pattern of grave desecrations that spread across eastern Pennsylvania, to the digital trail that allegedly connected the crimes to an online bone-trading network.

We break down what investigators say they found inside a Lancaster County home where more than 100 sets of human remains were recovered, the charges now filed, and the extraordinary legal exposure the accused faces under Pennsylvania law.

This episode also explores the broader questions raised by the case: how historic cemeteries are protected, the legal gray area surrounding the buying and selling of human bones, and the lasting impact on families whose loved ones’ graves were violated.

This is not a sensational story. It is an investigation into accountability, dignity, and what happens when the dead are treated as commodities.

⚠️ Content Warning: This episode discusses grave desecration and human remains. Viewer discretion is advised.

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