"The Burlap Sack" Evidence: How Yeadon Police Caught the Ephrata Bone Collector
Chapter 5: The details of the traffic stop that ended the reign of the "House of Skulls."
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)
More on Vocal from Sunshine Firecracker☀️🧨:
- Inside the House of Skulls: The Complete Investigation (Master Hub)
- The Monster in the Details: How an Energy Drink Solved the Case
- 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 and does not constitute legal advice.
EDITORIAL NOTE All allegations are based on the Affidavit of Probable Cause and public police reports available as of January 15, 2026.
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