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.
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 Mattersabout a month 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 Firecrackerabout a month 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 Firecrackerabout a month 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 Firecrackerabout a month 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 Firecrackerabout a month ago in Criminal
Multinational Crisis
Part One: Nigeria You have all heard about Nigerians, Nigeria in general. The infamous scammer country. But let’s have a real conversation. Let me give you some extremely boring stats, so we are on a level playing field, on my thoughts. I’ll be as brief as possible considering, no one wants an hour long dissertation on economic issues.
By Alexandra Grantabout a month 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 Firecrackerabout a month 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 Firecrackerabout a month 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 Firecrackerabout a month 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 Firecrackerabout a month 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 Firecrackerabout a month ago in Criminal
