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.

In any major criminal case, there are two types of evidence: the physical (the bones) and the documentary (the deeds). As a legal analyst, I know that while criminals can wash their hands, they rarely wash their paper trails.

We conducted a deep dive into the Lancaster County Recorder of Deeds to trace the ownership history of 100 Washington Avenue (Parcel No. 260-70120-0-0000). What we found is Instrument No. 20250014073—a document that raises serious questions about asset protection and consciousness of guilt.

The "Sham" Transfer

Jonathan Gerlach didn't own the house alone. He purchased it on October 5, 2023, with Natalie Tummolo for $255,000.00. But less than two years later, his name disappeared from the title.

The Document Details:

• Date Signed: April 7, 2025.
• Grantors (Sellers): Jonathan C. Gerlach and Natalie Tummolo.
• Grantees (Buyers): Natalie Tummolo and Vincenza Tummolo (identified in the deed as "Daughter and Mother").
• The Price: The deed explicitly lists the consideration as "ONE DOLLAR ($1.00)".

The Valuation Disparity

To the average resident of Ephrata, selling a house for a dollar sounds like a typo. To a legal professional, it is a massive red flag.

According to the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue Statement of Value filed with the deed, the Computed Value of the property at the time of transfer was $268,509.00. Yet, Gerlach signed away his ownership interest for $1.00.

Why does this matter? Gerlach bought the house in 2023. By April 2025, he was allegedly deep into his collection of human remains. By removing his name from the deed and transferring it to his co-owner and her mother, he effectively "judgment-proofed" the property. If the families of the victims sue him for civil damages today, the house is no longer in his name. It belongs to the Tummolos.

The Mortgage Trap

Here is where the paperwork gets messy. When Gerlach bought the house in 2023, he signed a Mortgage with Meridian Bank for $175,000.00. The deed transfer in April 2025 removed him from the ownership (Title), but public records do not show a corresponding "Satisfaction of Mortgage" releasing him from the debt.

This creates a scenario common in asset shielding schemes:

• He owes the money: He is still likely liable for the $175,000 mortgage note.
• He owns nothing: He has no legal claim to the house itself.
• The Goal: If he gets sued/arrested, creditors can't take the house because he "doesn't own it," but his family retains control.

Legal Deep Dive: Fraudulent Conveyance

Under the Pennsylvania Uniform Voidable Transactions Act, a transfer can be voided if it was made with the "actual intent to hinder, delay, or defraud" any creditor. The timing is critical.

• Transfer Date: April 7, 2025.
• Raid Date: January 6, 2026.

While the transfer happened nine months before the arrest, prosecutors could argue that Gerlach knew his criminal activities (possessing hundreds of human bones) created a ticking time bomb of liability. By shifting the house to Natalie and Vincenza Tummolo for $1.00, he was preparing for the inevitable explosion.

The Conspirators?

This deed implicates the Grantees.

Natalie Tummolo and Vincenza Tummolo signed the deed and accepted the property. By accepting the transfer of the "House of Skulls" for $1.00, they became the legal owners of a property that was actively being used to store stolen human remains.

• Did they know? It is difficult to argue that the owners of a small rowhome were unaware of the biological decay and "oddities" accumulating inside.
• The Clawback: Because they paid only $1.00 (not "reasonably equivalent value"), a civil court could easily strip the title from them and return it to Gerlach’s estate to satisfy the victims' claims.

The "$1 Deed" was an emergency exit. But in the eyes of the law, it looks a lot like evidence.

🚨 Continue the Investigation

The house is a crime scene. The deed is a smoking gun. Next, how Ephrata Mainspring’s obsession with "Curb Appeal" created a blind spot for actual danger.

⬅️ Previous: Chapter 11: The House of Skulls & The Grass Police

➡️ Next: Chapter 13: The "Revitalization" Lie

More on Vocal from Sunshine Firecracker☀️🧨:

• Inside the House of Skulls: The Complete Investigation (Master Hub)
• The Man Who Collected Death: A Profile of Jonathan Gerlach
• Is Your Town Hall Breaking the Law? A Citizen's Guide to Official Oppression in Pennsylvania

COPYRIGHT & TRADEMARK NOTICE © 2026 Sunshine Firecracker / Dr. Jennifer Gayle Sappington, J.D. All Rights Reserved.

LEGAL DISCLAIMER The content provided in this article is for informational, educational, and advocacy purposes only.

EDITORIAL NOTE Analysis is based on Lancaster County Recorder of Deeds Instrument Nos. 20250014073 (Deed), 6756159 (Deed), and 6756160 (Mortgage).