Bone Fragments Traded on Social Media, Motive Remains Unknown
Jewelry Believed Stolen from Graves Also Found
Past Cases of Grave Robbing for Anatomical Study Resurface
A man has been arrested in the United States for stealing and storing over 100 bodies from 26 cemeteries, shocking the public. On January 12, Yonhap News TV, citing ABC News and NBC Philadelphia, reported that Pennsylvania police arrested a man in his 30s on charges of corpse theft and illegal possession. According to the police investigation, the man is suspected of breaking into 26 cemeteries across Pennsylvania from November last year to January this year, stealing bodies and human remains. He was caught acting suspiciously at a cemetery on the outskirts of Philadelphia, where police found a bag containing a skull and the body of a child in his vehicle.
Police had been investigating a series of grave desecrations at several cemeteries and identified Gerlach as a suspect based on a vehicle repeatedly spotted near the scenes of the crimes. After executing search warrants at his residence and a separate storage facility, police were stunned by what they found. In the basement and storage areas, more than 100 sets of human remains were displayed in bizarre arrangements. A police official who witnessed the scene said, "It was an unbelievable sight," adding, "It felt as if a scene from a horror movie had become reality."
Some of the discovered remains are believed to be over 200 years old, while others were relatively recent, including bodies fitted with medical implants such as pacemakers. Police also recovered jewelry and ornaments that appeared to have been stolen from graves. During the investigation, police found photos and evidence of activity linked to Gerlach on a Facebook account named 'Human Remains Sales Group,' and are now investigating whether he sold any of the stolen remains online. However, since some states in the United States do not have legal penalties for the possession or trade of human bones themselves, the man currently faces charges of grave desecration, theft, and illegal distribution.
So far, the motive or purpose behind the man's crimes has not been revealed. Police are focusing their efforts on identifying additional affected cemeteries and the identities of the remains. He has been indicted on multiple counts of theft and trespassing, and the court has set a high bail amount. Some U.S. media outlets have commented that this case is reminiscent of crimes in the past where bodies were exhumed for anatomical study, and have once again highlighted the need for stronger cemetery security and legal reforms regarding the trade of human remains.
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