Who Missed the Ephrata 'House of Skulls'? Investigating Associated Building Inspections (ABI)

By Sunshine Firecracker, J.D. Member, National Writers Union (UAW Local 1981) | Member ID: 172106 Book & Journalism Division

The "House of Skulls" Loophole: How Gerlach Slipped Through

When the world learned that Jonathan Gerlach had been stockpiling human remains at 100 Washington Avenue in Ephrata, PA, one question dominated social media: "How did the neighbors not know?"

The answer lies in a broken system of privatized enforcement. In most American towns, a government inspector would have flagged the property for suspicious odors, ventilation modifications, or lack of permits. But in Ephrata, the government has outsourced its eyes and ears. Enter Associated Building Inspections (ABI). This is the private, for-profit company contracted to enforce the International Property Maintenance Code (IPMC) in Ephrata. They are the "Private Police" of property rights. And their failure to detect the House of Skulls is the missing link in this tragedy.

What is Associated Building Inspections (ABI)?

If you search for "Code Enforcement Ephrata PA," you won't find a government department. You will find a third-party vendor. ABI is a private corporation. They are hired by the Borough to:

• Measure grass height.
• Inspect sidewalks.
• Issue citations for "blight."

They are aggressive about cosmetic violations. They are the reason you get a fine for leaving your trash can out too long. But when it came to a rowhome emitting the smell of decomposition and trafficking in stolen human remains, the "Private Police" were nowhere to be found.

The "Curb Appeal" Trap: Why Cosmetic Enforcement Fails

Why did inspectors miss the Gerlach House of Skulls? Because Ephrata Borough's enforcement strategy is obsessed with Curb Appeal, not public safety. The Borough wants a town that looks "investable" to developers.

• Long grass? Citation. (It looks poor).
• Peeling paint? Citation. (It looks blighted).
• 100 Skulls in the basement? Pass. (You can't see it from the street).

ABI is incentivized to target visible, low-hanging fruit. They are the janitors of the real estate market, sweeping up the poor so the developers can move in. They inspected the veneer and ignored the rot.

Can You Sue a Private Inspector? The Legal Reality

Ephrata Borough officials may try to claim they aren't responsible because ABI is a private contractor. They are wrong. As a legal analyst, I am flagging this as a massive liability for the Borough under the "State Actor" Doctrine.

⚖️ LEGAL SIDEBAR: THE "STATE ACTOR" LIABILITY

Under federal law (42 U.S.C. § 1983), a private company like ABI acts "under color of law" when they perform government functions. By issuing fines and threatening liens, they become the government.

If ABI selectively enforced the law—harassing working families for weeds while ignoring the Gerlach biological hazard—they (and the Borough) are liable for Equal Protection violations. They didn't just miss a violation; they facilitated a public nuisance.

The Double Tax: What Ephrata Residents Pay

Residents are effectively being double-taxed for this failure:

1. Tax Dollars: You pay the Borough to fund the ABI contract.
2. Direct Fees: You pay ABI directly for permits every time you fix your own home.

We are paying premium prices for a "security system" that didn't go off when a serial criminal moved in next door.

The Demand: Transparency for Ephrata

We are done with the outsourced tyranny. To prevent another Jonathan Gerlach scandal, we demand:

1. Release the ABI Contract: We demand the full text of the agreement between Ephrata Borough and Associated Building Inspections.
2. Audit the Logs: We demand the full inspection history of 100 Washington Avenue. Did ABI ever visit? Did they ever "Notice" the smell?
3. Termination: A code enforcement agency that misses a Mass Grave is not "enforcing" anything. They are negligent.

Jonathan Gerlach was the monster. But ABI was the gatekeeper who fell asleep.

🚨 Continue the Investigation

The police missed the criminal. The inspectors missed the building. The system is failing on every level.

⬅️ Previous: Chapter 18: Ephrata Mayor Ralph Mowen & The 'House of Skulls'