Delaware

Pa. man accused of stealing more than 100 skeletons from Delco cemetery

Published

2 weeks ago

January 8, 2026

Pa. man accused of stealing more than 100 skeletons from Delco cemetery

A Pennsylvania man is accused of stealing more than 100 skeletons from a cemetery in Delaware County.

Jonathan Gerlach, 34, of Ephrata, Pennsylvania, is charged with abuse of corpse, criminal mischief, burglary and other related offenses, Delaware County District Attorney Tanner Rouse revealed on Thursday, Jan. 8.

Léelo en español aquí

Between November 2025 and Jan. 6, 2026, 26 mausoleums and underground burial sites had been burglarized or desecrated at Mount Moriah Cemetery, which stretches from Yeadon Borough, Pennsylvania, to Philadelphia, investigators said.

As police investigated the thefts, they caught Gerlach desecrating a monument at the cemetery on Tuesday, Jan. 6, according to officials. Gerlach was taken into custody and investigators executed a search warrant at his home in Ephrata.

During the search, investigators recovered 100 human skeletons from Gerlach’s home as well as eight more human remains inside a storage locker, according to Rouse.

“Detectives walked into a horror movie come to life the other night guys,” Rouse said. “This is an unbelievable scene that no one involved – from myself to the detectives to the medical examiners that are now trying to piece together what they are looking at, quite literally – none of them have ever seen anything like this before.”

Rouse said some of the stolen skeletons are hundreds of years old.

“We are trying to figure out exactly what we are looking at,” Rouse said. “We quite simply at this juncture are not able to date and identify all of them.”

Rouse also said some of the skeletons are of infants and children.

“It is truly, in the most literal sense of the word, horrific,” Rouse said. “I grieve for those who are upset by this who are going through it who are trying to figure out if it is in fact their loved one or their child because we found remains that we believe to be months old infants among those that he had collected. Our hearts go out to every family that is impacted by this.”

Sources also told NBC10 the thefts are related to a similar case in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania. Investigators said they are looking at Gerlach’s online community — including his social media groups and Facebook page — to determine if people were buying, selling, or trading the remains.

Gerlach is currently in custody at the Delaware County Prison after failing to post $1 million bail. Online court records don’t list an attorney who could speak on his behalf.

Source link

Delaware

Eric’s ID Law introduced in Delaware House – 47abc

Published

7 hours ago

January 20, 2026

Press Room

Eric’s ID Law introduced in Delaware House – 47abc

DOVER, Del. – On Tuesday, lawmakers gathered as Rep. Nnamdi Chukwuocha announced HB 280, also known as Eric’s ID Law.

The new bipartisan legislation is designed to ensure more equitable treatment for individuals with nonapparent disabilities during encounters with law enforcement.

Eric’s ID Law would establish a voluntary option allowing Delawareans to display a discreet butterfly on state-issued driver’s licenses and identifications.

The butterfly would give individuals with nonapparent disabilities a way to communicate their needs to law enforcement during interactions where verbal communication may be difficult.

Maryland was the first state successfully pass and enact the law last year.

If enacted, Delaware would be the second state in the nation to do so.

Source link

Delaware

These 6 UD roommates dish on best bites as the ‘Newark Foodies’

Published

19 hours ago

January 20, 2026

Press Room

These 6 UD roommates dish on best bites as the ‘Newark Foodies’

Six University of Delaware roommates started the popular Instagram account Newark Foodies.
The account, which began as a hobby, has grown to nearly 8,000 followers.
The students collaborate with local restaurants to spotlight menu items and host giveaways.

It started more than two years ago when a then-University of Delaware sophomore pitched an idea to her five roommates: an Instagram page dedicated to the eateries of Newark.

“I remember thinking, ‘What’s one thing everyone in Newark can relate to that hasn’t really been done yet?” says Hockessin native Leah Pala, 22, recalling the launch of Newark Foodies (@newarkfoodiess).

Ever since that day at Santa Fe Mexican Grill on Main Street with roommates Angelina Pala, Isabella McKenna, Katrina Heinz, Julia Query, Claire Taggart, the sextet has been posting about their meals in the college town, gaining nearly 8,000 followers.

As the housemates prepare for the final semester of their senior year, we chatted with Leah Pala about their favorite Newark spots, meals and more.

Question: Why did you start the account?

Answer: Besides the fact that we are huge foodies … it started as a fun hobby that my roommates and I did together in our free time. However, we never imagined it would get the attention it did, especially from local restaurants.

What was the first spot you featured?

Snap Pizza on Main Street.

What do you like about doing these videos?

We love being able to collaborate with local business owners and spotlight specific menu items that can genuinely help their businesses grow, especially small, locally owned spots. It’s also exciting to try new places and experience a wide variety of food. One of our favorite parts is hosting giveaways, which help boost visibility for both the business and our account while getting the community involved. It’s always fun seeing how far students will go for a gift card.

Any parts you don’t like?

There honestly isn’t much to dislike, but filming can get awkward at times, especially in sit-down restaurants. Obviously, we are not professionals, so six girls spending 20 minutes trying to get the best angle of their meal can get us a few stares. Coordinating six different schedules can also be challenging, between all of us and the restaurants. Most of the time, only two or three of us are able to go, but we always make it work.

Do you contact the owners before you arrive or tell them who you are when you’re there?

We usually reach out ahead of time. That’s when we discuss what kind of content we will create, whether it’s a post, video or stories. When we arrive, we sometimes have to remind them who we are, but it’s never an issue.

Do you pay for the food?

When we coordinate with restaurants ahead of time, we typically don’t pay, which we’re very grateful for. However, we never expect it.

What do you love about dining in Delaware?

I love how much variety Delaware offers. There’s a great mix of small, local spots and higher-end restaurants. I also love how a lot of places focus on creating an experience, offering live music, seasonal events, and themed nights.

Do you ever get recognized? What’s that like if you do?

At first, we preferred staying anonymous and didn’t think it was necessary to be in the posts and videos. But as the account grew, especially among UD students, it became harder to hide our little secret, especially from our close friends. Towards the end of sophomore year, students would come up to us if they saw us filming and ask if we were Newark Foodies. It was never anything crazy, but it was always fun seeing classmates’ reactions. We still don’t think a ton of people know who we are, especially underclassmen.

What’s the funniest moment you’ve had while filming?

There isn’t one specific moment, but there have been several times where all six of us go in, order way more food than planned, thinking we’ll only take a few bites each, when we really end up finishing everything. There have also been times when only a couple of us go in planning to bring back food for the rest … and somehow it never makes it home.

What’s the best eatery you’ve featured?

This is such a hard question because everything we have tried has been great. If we had to choose one, it would be The Greenhouse Gastropub on Main Street. After our first visit, we brought friends and family back immediately. The food is consistently flavorful, and the staff is always so welcoming. They have a really unique and fun atmosphere, especially the upstairs bar. Every meal we’ve tried is truly out of this world and we think they deserve more recognition.

Without naming names, is there one that was particularly bad or an experience that went poorly? What happened?

Honestly, no. We’ve had zero bad experiences. Everyone we’ve worked with has been incredibly kind and generous and the entire experience has been overwhelmingly positive.

Best dish you’ve tried in one of your videos?

This one’s tough, but we’d have to say the cheesesteaks, especially the beef and buffalo chicken cheesecakes, from Balboa Steaks. It’s genuinely comparable to some of the best Philly cheesesteaks. We’d also have to say Santa Fe’s nachos, easily some of the best we’ve had in Delaware.

What’s the strangest thing you’ve tried?

We haven’t tried anything too unusual, but the steamed BBQ pork buns from Ugly Dumpling stand out since none of us had tried anything like that before. Running this account has definitely made us more adventurous with food.

What are your top three restaurants or eateries in Delaware, whether you’ve featured them or not?

Our top three would be The Greenhouse Gastropub, Klondike Kate’s, and UD students’ go-to Sunday morning spot, The Hot Original Bagels.

Is there a Delaware restaurant or eatery that’s not well-known that should get some recognition and why?

We don’t think enough people know about Cafeneo in Newark. They have delicious Greek food, seasonal coffee drinks, and a beautiful interior that is completely different from anywhere else in the area. It’s such a unique spot that deserves more attention.

What’s really surprised you about being a food influencer?

How open and excited restaurants are to collaborate, especially since our audience isn’t that big. We thought reaching out might be difficult, but owners have been just as eager to work with us as we are to work with them. They’ve made the entire process easy and genuinely fun.

DELIVERED TO YOUR DOOR

Is there a cuisine Delaware doesn’t have much of that you’d love to see come here?

Honestly, Delaware offers most of the cuisines we love. There are great options for Italian, Mexican, Chinese, Mediterranean and American food. I think Delaware does a really good job offering solid staples for each cuisine.

Is there a food trend you are so over?

Overpriced food with very small portions. We haven’t featured any places like that, but I’ve definitely been to restaurants in Delaware where that’s been the case. And in my opinion, it’s not worth it.

And finally, do you have any advice for anyone hoping to become a food influencer on Instagram?

Our biggest advice is to stay consistent and not be afraid to reach out to restaurants. The worst thing they can say is no. It can feel silly and awkward filming at first, but it’s worth it. Most importantly, have fun with it, get creative and be open to what business owners want to showcase. We’re just six college girls with zero background in marketing or influencing, so if we can do it, anyone can.

Have a story idea? Contact Ryan Cormier of Delaware Online/The News Journal at rcormier@delawareonline.com or (302) 324-2863. Follow him on Facebook (@ryancormier) and X (@ryancormier).

Source link

Delaware

State Police Investigating Three-Vehicle Fatal Crash in Newark – Delaware State Police – State of Delaware

Published

1 day ago

January 19, 2026

Press Room

State Police Investigating Three-Vehicle Fatal Crash in Newark – Delaware State Police – State of Delaware

Date Posted: Monday, January 19th, 2026

The Delaware State Police is investigating a three-vehicle fatal crash that occurred Friday evening in Newark.

On January 16, 2026, at approximately 5:30 p.m., a Kia Sportage was stopped behind a Subaru Outback in the left lane of eastbound Pulaski Highway, west of David Place. At the same time, a Hyundai Kona was traveling eastbound on Pulaski Highway, approaching the stopped Kia. For reasons currently being investigated, the Hyundai failed to stop and crashed into the rear of the Kia. The collision pushed the Kia forward causing it to crash into the rear of the Subaru.

The driver of the Hyundai, 85-year-old Melvin Pitt of New Castle, Delaware, was taken to a local hospital with life-threatening injuries. On January 17, 2026, Pitt died from the injuries he sustained during the crash.

The passenger of the Hyundai, an 83-year-old woman from Newark, Delaware, was taken to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

The occupants of the Subaru and Kia did not report any injuries.

The Delaware State Police Troop 2 Collision Reconstruction Unit continues to investigate this crash. Troopers ask anyone who witnessed the crash or has video to contact Sgt. J. Jefferson at (302) 365-8484. Information may also be provided by sending a private Facebook message to the Delaware State Police or contacting Delaware Crime Stoppers at 1-800-847-3333.

If you or someone you know is a victim or witness of a crime or have lost a loved one to a sudden death and need assistance, the Delaware State Police Victim Services Unit / Delaware Victim Center is available to offer you support and resources 24 hours a day through a toll-free hotline at 1-800-VICTIM-1 (1-800-842-8461). You may also email the Victim Services Unit at DSP_VictimServicesMail@delaware.gov