Sunshine Firecracker
Bio
Sunshine Firecracker is Dr. Jennifer Gayle Sappington, J.D., an investigative journalist exposing the Ephrata Enterprise. This UB Law alumna and NWU member uses legal analysis to track the Gerlach case and Lancaster County corruption.
Stories (102)
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The $1 Deed: Did Jonathan Gerlach Transfer His Ephrata Property to Hide Assets?
The Paper Trail While the investigation into the Mount Moriah Cemetery grave robberies was quietly building, Jonathan Gerlach was already making moves to separate himself from his most valuable asset.
By Sunshine Firecracker18 days ago in Criminal
The Facebook Marketplace of Horrors: Inside the groups where bones are traded like baseball cards.
It Wasn't the Dark Web When we hear about the illegal sale of human body parts, we imagine the "Dark Web"—encrypted Tor browsers, Bitcoin wallets, and shadowy Russian servers. The terrifying reality of the Jonathan Gerlach case is that he wasn't hiding in the digital shadows. He was hiding in plain sight.
By Sunshine Firecracker18 days ago in Criminal
Living in the Blast Zone: The "House of Skulls" and the Collapse of Ephrata’s Luxury Dream
The Morning the Property Value Died On January 6, 2026, the residents of Washington Avenue didn't just wake up to a crime scene; they woke up in a financial blast zone. While the media trucks have packed up and the hazmat suits are gone, the neighbors are left with a permanent scar. In real estate law, this is called "Stigmatized Property."
By Sunshine Firecracker18 days ago in Criminal
The Town That Slept: How Ephrata's Obsession with "Curb Appeal" Hid a House of Horrors
This article is Chapter 8 of the complete Jonathan Gerlach investigation. The "Perfect" Borough Ephrata, Pennsylvania, prides itself on its image. It is the home of the historic Ephrata Cloister, a site of religious devotion and discipline. It is a town of "Main Street" revitalization projects, boutique coffee shops, and carefully managed public relations. The Borough Council and its various sub-committees spend hours debating the aesthetics of the town. They want Ephrata to look safe, prosperous, and inviting.
By Sunshine Firecracker18 days ago in Criminal
Hunting 'Deadshitdaddy': The Instagram Account Selling Bones from the House of Skulls
This article is Chapter 7 of the complete Jonathan Gerlach investigation. The Digital Storefront in Ephrata While Jonathan Gerlach was physically robbing graves 70 miles away in Yeadon, he was simultaneously building a thriving brand in the heart of Ephrata Borough. Using the handle "deadshitdaddy" on Instagram and maintaining active profiles in private Facebook groups like "Human Bones and Skull Selling Group," Gerlach allegedly turned his residence at 100 Washington Avenue into an online boutique for the macabre.
By Sunshine Firecracker18 days ago in Criminal
The Ephrata Man Who Collected Death: A Profile of Jonathan Gerlach
This article is Chapter 6 of the complete Jonathan Gerlach investigation. The Mask of Normalcy To the residents of Ephrata Borough, Jonathan Christ Gerlach was just the guy at 100 Washington Avenue. He was 34 years old. He drove a silver Toyota RAV4. He paid his taxes. There were no red flags on the exterior of his property. The lawn was cut. The siding was clean. In a town obsessed with "curb appeal," Gerlach was a model citizen.
By Sunshine Firecracker18 days ago in Criminal
"The Burlap Sack" Evidence: How Yeadon Police Caught the Ephrata Bone Collector
This article is Chapter 5 of the complete Jonathan Gerlach investigation. The Trap is Sprung On January 6, 2026, Jonathan Gerlach got into his 2008 Toyota RAV4 and drove to Delaware County. He likely believed it was just another "shopping trip" to his favorite supply store: Mount Moriah Cemetery.
By Sunshine Firecracker18 days ago in Criminal
A Horror Movie Come to Life: Inside the Nightmare at 100 Washington Avenue
This article is Chapter 4 of the complete Jonathan Gerlach investigation. The Raid on Washington Avenue On the morning of January 6, 2026, the residents of Washington Avenue woke up to a swarm of law enforcement vehicles. But this wasn't a standard drug bust. The officers entering 100 Washington Avenue were wearing hazmat gear and respirators.
By Sunshine Firecracker18 days ago in Criminal
The Monster in the Details: How a can found in Yeadon solved a crime Ephrata missed.
This article is Chapter 3 of the complete Jonathan Gerlach investigation. The Million-Dollar Mistake Jonathan Gerlach stole over 100 human skulls. He transported bodies across county lines. He maintained a "museum" in a rowhome and a "warehouse" in a storage unit. For months, he operated with impunity right under the nose of the Ephrata Police Department.
By Sunshine Firecracker19 days ago in Criminal
The Second Crime Scene: The 8 Bodies Found in the Ephrata Storage Locker
This article is Chapter 2 of the complete Jonathan Gerlach investigation. DOSSIER ENTRY: THE SECOND CRIME SCENE TARGET LOCATION: EPHRATA SELF STORAGE (FACILITY NAME REDACTED) SEARCH DATE: WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 7, 2026 EVIDENCE RECOVERED: 8 INTACT HUMAN CORPSES / SKELETAL REMAINS THEORY: "FINISHED GOODS WAREHOUSE" STATUS: VERIFIED (AFFIDAVIT OF PROBABLE CAUSE)
By Sunshine Firecracker19 days ago in Criminal
Inside the House of Skulls: The Complete Investigation into the Ephrata Bone Factory
The Illusion Shatters By Sunshine Firecracker, J.D. Let the record reflect: On January 6, 2026, the Borough of Ephrata didn't just find a crime scene; it found its own reflection in the mirror.
By Sunshine Firecracker19 days ago in Criminal
Inside the House of Skulls: The Full Timeline of the Jonathan Gerlach Investigation
INVESTIGATION TARGET: JONATHAN C. GERLACH INCIDENT LOCATION: 100 WASHINGTON AVENUE, EPHRATA PA CHARGES: ABUSE OF CORPSE (x100), THEFT, DESECRATION STATUS: INCARCERATED ($1M BAIL) KEYWORDS: #HouseOfSkulls #JonathanGerlach #EphrataCrime #MountMoriah
By Sunshine Firecracker19 days ago in Criminal
