Pennsylvania man charged after more than 100 human remains found in his possession

Officials found human skulls, headless torsos and other corpse parts in car and home of Jonathan Gerlach, 34

A Pennsylvania man suspected of desecrating a historic cemetery in his state is facing hundreds of charges pertaining to grave robbery after authorities recently found more than 100 pieces of human remains in his possession, prompting one official to call the case “the most horrific thing”.

Jonathan Gerlach, 34, had human skulls, bones, mummified feet, headless torsos and other corpse parts – including in his car, home and storage locker – after his arrest on Tuesday, according to a sworn police statement reported by NBC News.

Among the remains was a skeleton with a cardiac pacemaker still attached, as the Philadelphia Inquirer noted.

Investigators on Thursday told news outlets that it was unclear what motive Gerlach had to allegedly stockpile the remains, some of which were said to be hundreds of years old.