"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.

He didn't know that the discarded energy drink he left behind weeks earlier had already sealed his fate. The Yeadon Police Department and Delaware County CID weren't just patrolling; they were hunting. Armed with a warrant and DNA evidence, they had set up a surveillance operation targeting the cemetery perimeter.

They watched. They waited. And when Gerlach made his move, they didn't hesitate.

The Stop

The takedown didn't happen at the house in Ephrata. It happened on the road. As Gerlach attempted to leave the area, Yeadon officers initiated a felony traffic stop. There was no high-speed chase. No shootout. Just the overwhelming force of competent policing. Officers ordered him out of the vehicle, secured him, and immediately turned their attention to the cargo he was hauling back to Lancaster County.

The "Burlap Sack" Discovery

What investigators found in the trunk of the RAV4 is the kind of detail that keeps seasoned detectives awake at night. According to the Affidavit of Probable Cause and reports from NBC10 Philadelphia, officers discovered a burlap sack filled with fresh inventory.

Inside the sack were three human skulls. This wasn't old storage. This was a fresh harvest.

• The Implication: If the police had stopped him 20 minutes later, those three skulls would be hanging in the rafters of 100 Washington Avenue right now, drying out for the "collection."
• The Evidence: Alongside the remains, police found the tools of the trade: a crowbar, flashlights, and heavy boots—likely covered in the graveyard mud that would match soil samples from the looted crypts.

Caught Red-Handed

This traffic stop is the legal nail in Gerlach's coffin. Defense attorneys often try to argue that possession of stolen goods is passive—"I bought them at a flea market," or "I didn't know they were real." But catching a suspect leaving a cemetery with pry bars and a bag of bones destroys that narrative.

• It proves Intent.
• It proves Action.
• It proves he was the primary aggressor, not just a passive collector.

A Victory for Yeadon

We must give credit where it is due. While Ephrata officials were asleep at the wheel, Yeadon Police Chief Anthony Paparo (and his department) executed a textbook investigation.

• They treated a property crime like a violent crime.
• They utilized DNA forensics on "garbage."
• They coordinated a multi-jurisdictional operation.

They essentially did Ephrata’s job for them. If not for Yeadon PD's vigilance, Gerlach would still be driving that RAV4 through our neighborhoods today.

The Ride Home

Jonathan Gerlach left Ephrata that morning as a free man and a "respected" oddities dealer. He returned in handcuffs. But as the police towed his vehicle and cataloged the bones in the burlap sack, they realized this was just the tip of the iceberg. The three skulls in the car were nothing compared to what was waiting for them back at the house.

🚨 Continue the Investigation

The arrest was over. But the question remained: Who is this guy? How did a man with a job, a girlfriend, and a mortgage become a grave robber?

⬅️ Previous: Chapter 4: A Horror Movie Come to Life

➡️ Next: Chapter 6: The Man Who Collected Death (A Profile of Jonathan Gerlach)

Or, return to the Case File: 📂 Inside the House of Skulls: The Complete Investigation Hub

Dr. Jennifer Gayle Sappington, J.D. Author & Investigative Journalist Member, National Writers Union (UAW Local 1981) Member ID: 172106 | Book & Journalism Division Creator, Inside the House of Skulls Investigative Series

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© 2026 SUNSHINE FIRECRACKER / DR. JENNIFER GAYLE SAPPINGTON, J.D. All Rights Reserved. This content is protected by the First Amendment of the United States Constitution as an act of investigative journalism, political commentary, and public accountability.

EDITORIAL NOTE & DISCLAIMER: This article is an investigative report based on the Affidavit of Probable Cause filed by the Yeadon Police Department and the Delaware County District Attorney's Office.

• Presumption of Innocence: All individuals mentioned, including Jonathan Gerlach, are presumed innocent of any criminal charges until proven guilty in a court of law.
• Opinion vs. Fact: Statements characterizing the actions or inactions of third parties (e.g., "The Warehouse," "Systemic Negligence") represent the author's opinion and interpretation of public safety duties and are not statements of criminal fact established by a court.
• Source Attribution: The term "Macabre Museum" is a direct quote from District Attorney Tanner Rouse.

FAIR USE NOTICE: This commentary utilizes copyrighted material (including social media data and news summaries) under the protection of Section 107 of the US Copyright Law. This usage is for the purposes of news reporting, criticism, and teaching, and constitutes a "fair use" of any such material.

EDITORIAL NOTE All allegations are based on the Affidavit of Probable Cause and public police reports available as of January 15, 2026.