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.
Inside the House of Skulls: The Full Timeline of the Jonathan Gerlach Investigation
This article is Chapter 1 of the complete Jonathan Gerlach investigation. INVESTIGATION TARGET: JONATHAN C. GERLACH INCIDENT LOCATION: 100 WASHINGTON AVENUE, EPHRATA PA CHARGES: ABUSE OF CORPSE (x100), THEFT, DESECRATION STATUS: INCARCERATED ($1M BAIL) KEYWORDS: #HouseOfSkulls #JonathanGerlach #EphrataCrime #MountMoriah
By Sunshine Firecracker27 days ago in Criminal
Investigating Associated Building Inspections Ephrata Complaints: The Private Company with Public Power
INVESTIGATION TARGET: ASSOCIATED BUILDING INSPECTIONS, LLC (ABI) HQ LOCATION: 1248 WEST MAIN STREET, SUITE 23, EPHRATA PA 17522 ROLE: THIRD-PARTY CODE ENFORCEMENT ALLEGATION: SELECTIVE ENFORCEMENT / GROSS NEGLIGENCE KEYWORDS: #EphrataCodeEnforcement #ABI #PublicSafetyFailure
By Sunshine Firecracker27 days ago in Criminal
Take it to the Bank. Content Warning.
The most vulnerable of us can take a care ride to the mall. We might go for that shopping trip as though it were a normal, everyday trip. On August 31st,1999, Mary Bowles, was a retiree who just wanted to go to Promenade Mall in Tulsa. She was there to do a little shopping and do some walking because it was too hot to walk outside. Our gal, Mary, wanted to get some afternoon walking in, and the Promenade Mall in Tulsa was a good place to go. Benches spread out and good air conditioning along with lots of places to get something cold to drink, she would have a safe time walking in there. If she had only made it inside the mall. The mall often had walkers throughout the day, so this was her way of keeping up with her exercise as a number of seniors did.
By Cassie Moore27 days ago in Criminal
Inside the 2001 Scottsdale Family Murders
On April 10 2001 a quiet neighborhood in Scottsdale, Arizona, became the scene of one of the most disturbing family murder cases in modern American history. What initially appeared to be a tragic house fire quickly unraveled into a calculated act of violence that left three people dead and one man missing—a mystery that remains unresolved more than two decades later.In the early hours of the morning, Scottsdale firefighters and police were dispatched to the home of Robert and Mary Fisher after reports of a massive fire and explosion. The blast was later determined to have been caused by natural gas that had accumulated inside the house before ignition. Flames engulfed the structure, suggesting at first glance a devastating accident. However, once firefighters extinguished the blaze and investigators entered the home, the reality proved far more sinister.
By Kure Garba27 days ago in Criminal
Ephrata Mayor Ralph Mowen & The 'House of Skulls': The Man Who Was Actually in Charge
The Great Escape Timing is everything. On Monday, January 5, 2026, Ralph Mowen walked out of Ephrata Borough Hall for the last time. After 30 years as Mayor, he was given a hero’s farewell. There were handshakes, a commemorative plaque, and speeches about his "legacy of service." He was the friendly grandfather of the Borough, the man who handed out candy at the Fair and cut the ribbons at the Rec Center. He got to retire on his own terms, with his reputation sparkling clean.
By Sunshine Firecracker28 days ago in Criminal
The Mayor’s Silence: Thomas Reinhold, Jonathan Gerlach, and Ephrata's 'House of Skulls'
The Promotion to Failure Thomas G. Reinhold isn’t a newcomer to Ephrata’s power structure; he is its architect. After spending over a decade (2012–2025) as Council President—rubber-stamping police budgets and prioritizing quick, unanimous meetings over deep scrutiny—Reinhold finally ascended to the Mayor’s office in January 2026.
By Sunshine Firecracker28 days ago in Criminal
Who Was The Lady in Room 2805?
Jennifer Fairgate, a friendly woman who spoke with a German accent, checked into Room 2805 at the Oslo Plaza Hotel in Norway on May 31, 1995. She arrived alone and paid for the room in cash. Hotel staff did not request identification.
By Criminal Matters28 days ago in Criminal
The $23,000-a-Day Question: Ephrata spends $8.5 million a year for police. What are we actually buying?
The Invoice Arrives Every year, Ephrata property owners receive a tax bill. A massive chunk of that bill goes to one place: The Police Department. We are told this is the price of safety. We are told that we have a "Gold Standard" department that warrants premium funding.
By Sunshine Firecracker28 days ago in Criminal
One Mile Away: Why the Yeadon Police Department had to drive an hour to do Ephrata’s Job
The Commute to Justice On the morning of January 7, 2026, a convoy of unmarked police vehicles merged onto the Pennsylvania Turnpike. They were driving West, away from Philadelphia. They were detectives from the Yeadon Police Department (Delaware County).
By Sunshine Firecracker29 days ago in Criminal
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 Firecracker29 days 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 Firecracker29 days ago in Criminal
