The Second Crime Scene: The 8 Bodies Found in the Ephrata Storage Locker

DOSSIER ENTRY: THE SECOND CRIME SCENE

TARGET LOCATION: EPHRATA SELF STORAGE (FACILITY NAME REDACTED)

SEARCH DATE: WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 7, 2026

EVIDENCE RECOVERED: 8 INTACT HUMAN CORPSES / SKELETAL REMAINS

THEORY: "FINISHED GOODS WAREHOUSE"

STATUS: VERIFIED (AFFIDAVIT OF PROBABLE CAUSE)

By now, the world knows about the House of Skulls on Washington Avenue. But buried in the criminal complaint against Jonathan Gerlach is a detail that many news outlets have glossed over: The Storage Unit.

While over 100 sets of human remains were found in his home, investigators executed a search warrant at a separate storage facility within Ephrata Borough limits on the morning of Wednesday, January 7, 2026—the day after his arrest by the Yeadon Police Department.

What they found there confirms that this wasn't just a "collection" or the result of a disordered mind. It was an active warehouse for the human remains trade in Pennsylvania.

I. THE INVENTORY: 8 MORE VICTIMS

According to the Affidavit of Probable Cause filed by the Yeadon Police Department, investigators made a disturbing discovery at the secondary location. While the majority of the "collection" was in the basement, police recovered eight additional human corpses and various skeletal remains from this separate storage locker.

THE SUPPLY CHAIN: FACTORY VS. WAREHOUSE

The discovery of these eight separated victims raises a terrifying conclusion that contradicts the "collector" narrative.

If Gerlach was just a "collector," he would keep his prizes close. But he put the bodies in storage and kept the skulls in the house.

This suggests a Manufacturing Bottleneck. Analysis indicates the house was the "Factory" where remains were processed (cleaned, dried, mummified). But Gerlach was looting Mount Moriah Cemetery so aggressively—hitting 26 mausoleums in a few months—that he likely ran out of space or time to process the bodies.

The storage unit wasn't for "finished goods." It was the freezer. He was stashing the raw inventory there until the "Factory" at 100 Washington Avenue had room to process them.

III. THE "DEADSHITDADDY" CONNECTION

The storage unit wasn't just for bones; evidence suggests it was for high-value items intended for sale.

Search warrants reveal that police were tracking Gerlach’s digital footprint long before the raid. In a private Facebook group explicitly named "Human Bones and Skull Selling Group," a user was seen thanking Gerlach for a "human skin bag."

This connects directly to the "Deadshitdaddy" Instagram account, which police have confirmed belonged to Gerlach. On this account, he posted over 100 images of skulls, many with captions indicating they were for sale.

THE LOGIC: You don't rent a storage unit for 8 corpses unless you have an inventory problem.

The skulls in the house were the "Product" ready for Instagram. The bodies in the storage unit were the "Work in Progress." He was managing a supply chain that had outgrown his basement.

IV. THE LOGISTICS OF LOOTING

You don't just put 8 bodies in a storage locker by accident. This requires logistics.

• THE VEHICLE: Gerlach was arrested on January 6 with a "burlap sack," a crowbar, and three skulls in his Toyota RAV4. He was intercepted in transit—likely moving inventory between Mount Moriah Cemetery, his home, and this storage unit.
• THE LOCATION: While police have redacted the specific facility name, open-source mapping of Ephrata Borough shows only a handful of self-storage facilities within a short drive of 100 Washington Avenue.
• THE NEGLIGENCE: Did facility managers never notice a tenant loading heavy, odd-shaped bags? Or did they, like the Ephrata Code Enforcement failures, choose not to see?

V. LEGAL ANALYSIS: THE "SMOKING GUN" AGAINST INSANITY

As a legal analyst, I see the storage unit as the "smoking gun" against any defense of insanity.

A "hoarder" fills their living space until they can't move. A "business owner" rents off-site storage to manage inventory. By expanding to a second location, Gerlach demonstrated Executive Function—the ability to plan, organize, and manage assets.

1. He paid rent on a separate facility.
2. He transported goods across borough lines.
3. He segregated his inventory (Finished vs. Raw).

This kills the "I couldn't help myself" defense. He treated these bodies like widgets in a warehouse. Delaware County DA Tanner Rouse has already charged him with over 500 counts, including Abuse of Corpse and Theft by Unlawful Taking.

Read More: I break down the legal strategy in Chapter 21: Will He Walk Free?

❓ Frequently Asked Questions: The Gerlach Investigation

Q: Where was the Jonathan Gerlach storage unit located? A: Investigators executed a search warrant at a self-storage facility within Ephrata Borough limits on the morning of Jan 7, 2026, finding 8 additional bodies.

Q: What is the "Deadshitdaddy" Instagram account? A: Police linked the account "Deadshitdaddy" to Jonathan Gerlach. It hosted over 100 images of skeletal remains, allegedly serving as a storefront for his sales via the "Human Bones and Skull Selling Group."

Q: How many bodies were found in the House of Skulls? A: Over 100 human skulls and remains were recovered from 100 Washington Avenue, with 8 additional corpses found in the secondary storage unit.

🚨 Continue the Investigation

The police missed the bodies in the house. They missed the bodies in the storage unit. So, how was this crime actually solved? It wasn't by a detective. It was by a piece of litter.

⬅️ Previous: Chapter 1: Inside The House Of Skulls

➡️ Next: Chapter 3: The Monster in the Details (The Energy Drink Evidence)

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

© 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.

1. Presumption of Innocence: All individuals mentioned, including Jonathan Gerlach, are presumed innocent of any criminal charges until proven guilty in a court of law.
2. 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.
3. 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.