Yeadon Police Department Announces Arrest of Jonathan Gerlach for Mount Moriah Cemetery Grave Burglaries
The Yeadon Borough Police Department, in collaboration with the Delaware County District Attorney’s Office Criminal Investigation Division (CID), announces the arrest of Jonathan Christian Gerlach following a comprehensive joint investigation into multiple grave burglaries at Mount Moriah Cemetery located in Yeadon Borough.
Press Releases – January 9, 2026:
Jonathan Gerlach Arrest – News Release (PDF)
Mount Moriah Cemetary Family Notifications (PDF)
Through an intensive and ongoing investigation, supported by multiple law enforcement partners, Mr. Gerlach was taken into custody and charged in connection with these crimes. Bail has been set at $1 million cash.
The charges filed include the following counts:
- Burglary (lead charge) – 26 counts
- Charge 2 – 26 counts
- Charge 3 – 26 counts
- Charge 4 – 7 counts
- Charge 5 – 7 counts
- Charge 6 – 26 counts
- Charge 7 – 100 counts
- Charge 8 – 100 counts
- Charge 9 – 100 counts
- Charge 10 – 26 counts
- Charge 11 – 26 counts
- Charge 12 – 26 counts
These charges include, but are not limited to, burglary, criminal trespass, abuse of corpse, theft, and desecration of venerated objects.
This investigation remains active and ongoing, as multiple locations are currently being searched for additional human remains. As with all criminal matters, the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
I would like to extend my sincere gratitude to Detective Leah Cesanek and the entire Yeadon Borough Police Department for their tireless and dedicated efforts throughout this investigation. I also wish to thank Detective Christopher Karr of the Delaware County District Attorney’s Office Criminal Investigation Division, along with District Attorney Tanner Rouse and the entire CID team for their unwavering support.
Additional thanks are extended to our law enforcement and investigative partners, including the Philadelphia Police Department, District Attorney Heather Adams of Lancaster County, Chief McKim of the Ephrata Police Department and his investigative unit, the Delaware County Medical Examiner’s Office, and the Lancaster County Coroner’s Office.
This collaboration among multiple agencies underscores the importance of unified efforts in the pursuit of justice.
This was a horrific crime, and we are deeply grateful for the cooperation and support provided by the Friends of Mount Moriah Cemetery, who have assisted from the very beginning of this investigation.
Media inquiries may be directed to:
The Yeadon Police Department is currently working in conjunction with the Delaware County District Attorney’s Office on a horrific and ongoing investigation involving Mount Moriah Cemetery, located in Yeadon and Philadelphia.
If you have a family member who was buried at Mount Moriah Cemetery and was interred in a MAUSOLEUM OR UNDERGROUND BURIAL VAULT, you are asked to contact the Yeadon Police Department.
Please direct all correspondence via email to:
Henry Giammarco
Chief of Police, Yeadon Police Department
HGiammarco@yeadonpd.org
At this time, the Yeadon Police Department is in the process of contacting families believed to be affected by this heinous crime, specifically those with loved ones buried in mausoleums or underground burial vaults.