investigation
Whodunnit, and why? All about criminal investigations and the forensic methods used to search for clues and collect evidence to get to the bottom of the crime.
The "Revitalization" Lie: How Ephrata’s Obsession with 'Curb Appeal' Hid a House of Horrors
The Brand vs. The Bodies If you walk down Main Street today, you will see the banners. You will see the matching flower pots. You will see the "Welcome to Ephrata" signs designed to project an image of quaint, small-town prosperity.
By Sunshine Firecracker™10 months ago in Criminal
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.
By Sunshine Firecracker™10 months ago in Criminal
The Facebook Marketplace of Horrors: Inside the groups where bones are traded like baseball cards.
It Wasn't the Dark Web When we hear about the illegal sale of human body parts, we imagine the "Dark Web"—encrypted Tor browsers, Bitcoin wallets, and shadowy Russian servers. The terrifying reality of the Jonathan Gerlach case is that he wasn't hiding in the digital shadows. He was hiding in plain sight.
By Sunshine Firecracker™10 months ago in Criminal
Living in the Blast Zone: The "House of Skulls" and the Collapse of Ephrata’s Luxury Dream
The Morning the Property Value Died On January 6, 2026, the residents of Washington Avenue didn't just wake up to a crime scene; they woke up in a financial blast zone. While the media trucks have packed up and the hazmat suits are gone, the neighbors are left with a permanent scar. In real estate law, this is called "Stigmatized Property."
By Sunshine Firecracker™10 months ago in Criminal
The Town That Slept: How Ephrata's Obsession with "Curb Appeal" Hid a House of Horrors
This article is Chapter 8 of the complete Jonathan Gerlach investigation. The "Perfect" Borough Ephrata, Pennsylvania, prides itself on its image. It is the home of the historic Ephrata Cloister, a site of religious devotion and discipline. It is a town of "Main Street" revitalization projects, boutique coffee shops, and carefully managed public relations. The Borough Council and its various sub-committees spend hours debating the aesthetics of the town. They want Ephrata to look safe, prosperous, and inviting.
By Sunshine Firecracker™10 months ago in Criminal
Hunting 'Deadshitdaddy': The Instagram Account Selling Bones from the House of Skulls
This article is Chapter 7 of the complete Jonathan Gerlach investigation. The Digital Storefront in Ephrata While Jonathan Gerlach was physically robbing graves 70 miles away in Yeadon, he was simultaneously building a thriving brand in the heart of Ephrata Borough. Using the handle "deadshitdaddy" on Instagram and maintaining active profiles in private Facebook groups like "Human Bones and Skull Selling Group," Gerlach allegedly turned his residence at 100 Washington Avenue into an online boutique for the macabre.
By Sunshine Firecracker™10 months ago in Criminal
The Ephrata Man Who Collected Death: A Profile of Jonathan Gerlach
This article is Chapter 6 of the complete Jonathan Gerlach investigation. The Mask of Normalcy To the residents of Ephrata Borough, Jonathan Christ Gerlach was just the guy at 100 Washington Avenue. He was 34 years old. He drove a silver Toyota RAV4. He paid his taxes. There were no red flags on the exterior of his property. The lawn was cut. The siding was clean. In a town obsessed with "curb appeal," Gerlach was a model citizen.
By Sunshine Firecracker™10 months ago in Criminal
"The Burlap Sack" Evidence: How Yeadon Police Caught the Ephrata Bone Collector
This article is Chapter 5 of the complete Jonathan Gerlach investigation. 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.
By Sunshine Firecracker™10 months ago in Criminal
A Horror Movie Come to Life: Inside the Nightmare at 100 Washington Avenue
This article is Chapter 4 of the complete Jonathan Gerlach investigation. The Raid on Washington Avenue On the morning of January 6, 2026, the residents of Washington Avenue woke up to a swarm of law enforcement vehicles. But this wasn't a standard drug bust. The officers entering 100 Washington Avenue were wearing hazmat gear and respirators.
By Sunshine Firecracker™10 months ago in Criminal
The Murder Sheet Podcast links TX killing To KY Cold Case
At a time when violent crimes are at historical lows (despite what the current administration claims), there are more true-crime podcasts, books, TV shows, and general interest in the genre. True-crime podcasts are extremely expensive to make because of research costs, public records requests, potential investigator fees, out-of-studio recording costs, and production expenses.
By Frank Racioppi10 months ago in Criminal
A Real Story: The Day Ameneh Bahrami Lost Her Sight. AI-Generated.
In 2005, Tehran woke up to what seemed like an ordinary morning. Buses were running, offices were opening, and students were heading to their universities. The city was moving through its usual routine. No one knew that, in one small part of the city, a tragedy was about to occur—one that would later shock the entire world.
By shakir hamid10 months ago in Criminal
