Police in the United States have made a macabre discovery after finding skulls in a car led them to a man allegedly responsible for stealing the remains of at least 100 people from a historic cemetery.
Grisly trail leads to basement hoard
The investigation began when officers discovered human skulls inside a vehicle. This led them to a basement on the outskirts of Philadelphia, where they made a shocking find. The room was filled with a hoard of human body parts, allegedly collected by 34-year-old Jonathan Christ Gerlach.
Authorities allege Mr Gerlach targeted the sealed vaults and mausoleums at the massive Mount Moriah Cemetery, which is America's largest abandoned burial ground with roughly 150,000 graves. He is accused of breaking into 26 above-ground structures since November to access the older remains inside.
Horrific inventory of stolen remains
A subsequent search of the suspect's home and a storage unit uncovered a horrific collection. Police allegedly found more than 100 skulls, numerous bones, mummified hands and feet, and two decomposing torsos.
Jewellery believed to have belonged to the deceased and even a pacemaker were also recovered. Delaware County District Attorney Tanner Rouse described the chilling scene, stating the remains were "in various states."
"Some of them were hanging, as it were. Some of them were pieced together, some were just skulls on a shelf," Mr Rouse said.
Arrest made with children's remains in bag
Mr Gerlach was arrested last week as he walked back to his car near the cemetery. He was carrying a crowbar and a burlap bag. Inside that bag, officers allegedly found the mummified remains of two small children, three skulls, and other bones.
"Given the enormity of what we are looking at and the sheer, utter lack of reasonable explanation, it's difficult to say right now, at this juncture, exactly what took place. We're trying to figure it out," District Attorney Rouse told reporters.
The suspect now faces a staggering list of charges, including 100 counts each of abuse of a corpse and receiving stolen property. He has also been charged with multiple counts of desecrating a public monument, desecrating a venerated object, desecrating a historic burial place, burglary, trespassing, and theft.
Jonathan Christ Gerlach is currently being held in custody on a $1.49 million bond as the investigation continues.
