Nature vs Narcissism is a true crime/comedy podcast based in Cincinnati, Ohio where Heather and her guests discuss true crimes and the narcissists who commit them. Sometimes we have alcohol and sometimes things get weird. Relaunching on our 4th PodBirthday (Oct 22, 2021), the structure changed a lot. Every episode is different and every episode is entertaining! We will delve into whether we think nature made the criminals commit these heinous acts, or if it's simply their narcissism getting the best of them. Keep in mind, this podcast is strictly for entertainment purposes and is in no way a professional diagnosis of the subjects discussed.
Ed Gein Wannabe? Jonathan Christ Gerlach w/Kelsey - Part 3
In Part 3 of our three-part series, we step back and look at the bigger picture; why this case was framed the way it was, what comparisons help clarify versus distort, and how investigators ultimately honed in on Jonathan Gerlach.
After Part 1 established the headlines and charges, and Part 2 examined the investigation and the tension between fact and online speculation, this final episode focuses on context, contrast, and consequence.
What we cover in Part 3:
A careful comparison between Jonathan Gerlach and Ed Gein
Why the comparison emerged
Where it holds weight
Where it breaks down and why that distinction matters
How sensational comparisons can oversimplify very different crimes, motives, and historical contexts
The historical and investigative significance of Mount Moriah Cemetery
Why this cemetery became a focal point and what its condition, oversight, and history reveal
How investigators narrowed their scope and connected the dots that ultimately led back to Gerlach
⚠️ Content Advisory
This episode includes discussion of:
Grave desecration
Human remains
Historical violent crime
Ethical and investigative failures
All topics are discussed factually and without graphic detail, with an emphasis on accountability and respect for the dead.Part 3 isn’t about escalation, it’s about clarity.We interrogate why certain comparisons feel inevitable in true crime, how historical figures like Ed Gein become shorthand for fear, and how that shorthand can distract from the realities of a modern investigation. We also explore how place matters; how Mount Moriah Cemetery is more than a backdrop, and how its story intersects with neglect, preservation, and investigative focus.This episode asks listeners to sit with complexity instead of reaching for extremes.
Until next time, stay inside, stay alive.
Check out our episodes on Ed Gein (2021):
https://www.spreaker.com/episode/ed-gein-case-part-1--48052190 (https://www.spreaker.com/episode/ed-gein-case-part-1--48052190) (https://www.spreaker.com/episode/ed-gein-case-part-1--48052190) (Part 1)
https://www.spreaker.com/episode/ed-gein-case-part-2--48058720 (https://www.spreaker.com/episode/ed-gein-case-part-2--48058720) (Part 2)
References
13WHAM. (2026). Ephrata man Jonathan Gerlach admits to selling human remains stolen from Pennsylvania cemetery. https://13wham.com/news/nation-world/ephrata-man-jonathan-gerlach-admits-to-selling-human-remains-stolen-from-pa-cemetery-search-warrant-delaware-county-philadelphia-mount-moriah-cemetery-lancaster-pennsylvania-skulls-skeletons-pa (https://13wham.com/news/nation-world/ephrata-man-jonathan-gerlach-admits-to-selling-human-remains-stolen-from-pa-cemetery-search-warrant-delaware-county-philadelphia-mount-moriah-cemetery-lancaster-pennsylvania-skulls-skeletons-pa)
Courthouse News Service. (2026). Commonwealth of Pennsylvania v. Jonathan Gerlach: Corpse theft and desecration cemetery docket [Court document]. https://www.courthousenews.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/pennsylvania-v-jonathan-gerlach-corpse-theft-desecration-cemetery-docket.pdf (https://www.courthousenews.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/pennsylvania-v-jonathan-gerlach-corpse-theft-desecration-cemetery-docket.pdf)
LancasterOnline. (2026a). A look at investigation of human remains thefts linked to Ephrata suspect: Full coverage.<a...
20 Jan 2026TRANSCRIPT
Ed Gein Wannabe? Jonathan Christ Gerlach w/Kelsey - Part 2
In Part 2 of our three-part series, we move beyond the headlines and into the investigation itself; and just as importantly, into the space where verified facts collide with public assumption and social-media speculation.
After Part 1 laid out what Jonathan Gerlach was charged with and how the story first broke, this episode slows things down. We examine what investigators actually knew, when they knew it, and how information spread faster than confirmation.
This is the episode about process, not panic.
What we cover in Part 2:
How the investigation unfolded behind the scenes
What law enforcement could confirm early on and what remained unclear
The difference between documented evidence and public inference
How social media posts, screenshots, and secondhand claims shaped the narrative
Why some details went viral despite lacking verification
The ethical risks of online sleuthing when a case involves human remains
How speculation can unintentionally obscure victims, timelines, and accountability
⚠️ Content AdvisoryThis episode includes discussion of:
Human remains
Cemetery theft
Ongoing investigations
Online speculation and misinformation
Details are discussed factually and non-graphically, with an emphasis on ethical reporting and restraint.
Come back for part 3!
Part 3: A comparison between Gerlach and Ed Gein; why the comparison exists, where it breaks down, and why it matters. The historical and investigative significance of Mount Moriah Cemetery, how investigators narrowed their focus, and what the next steps are in this case in terms of identifying and contacting loved ones who were affected by this heinous crime.
Until next time, stay inside, stay alive.
References
13WHAM. (2026). Ephrata man Jonathan Gerlach admits to selling human remains stolen from Pennsylvania cemetery. https://13wham.com/news/nation-world/ephrata-man-jonathan-gerlach-admits-to-selling-human-remains-stolen-from-pa-cemetery-search-warrant-delaware-county-philadelphia-mount-moriah-cemetery-lancaster-pennsylvania-skulls-skeletons-pa (https://13wham.com/news/nation-world/ephrata-man-jonathan-gerlach-admits-to-selling-human-remains-stolen-from-pa-cemetery-search-warrant-delaware-county-philadelphia-mount-moriah-cemetery-lancaster-pennsylvania-skulls-skeletons-pa)
Courthouse News Service. (2026). Commonwealth of Pennsylvania v. Jonathan Gerlach: Corpse theft and desecration cemetery docket [Court document]. https://www.courthousenews.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/pennsylvania-v-jonathan-gerlach-corpse-theft-desecration-cemetery-docket.pdf (https://www.courthousenews.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/pennsylvania-v-jonathan-gerlach-corpse-theft-desecration-cemetery-docket.pdf)
LancasterOnline. (2026a). A look at investigation of human remains thefts linked to Ephrata suspect: Full coverage. https://lancasteronline.com/news/local/a-look-at-investigation-of-human-remains-thefts-linked-to-ephrata-suspect-full-coverage/collection_12941079-68a2-4c90-a05f-e00d075c3ae5.html (https://lancasteronline.com/news/local/a-look-at-investigation-of-human-remains-thefts-linked-to-ephrata-suspect-full-coverage/collection_12941079-68a2-4c90-a05f-e00d075c3ae5.html)
LancasterOnline. (2026b). PA Attorney General’s Office investigating if Ephrata man stole bodies from Luzerne County....
19 Jan 2026TRANSCRIPT
Ed Gein Wannabe? Jonathan Christ Gerlach w/Kelsey - Part 1
In Part 1 of our three-part series, we begin where most people first encountered this case: the headlines.This episode breaks down what happened, what Jonathan Gerlach was charged with, and why this case immediately drew national attention. We move carefully through the facts; separating confirmed information from speculation, before briefly pulling back the curtain on what we currently know about his personal life and online presence, setting the stage for deeper analysis in the episodes to come.
What we cover in Part 1:
Who Jonathan Gerlach is and why his name suddenly appeared everywhere
The criminal charges filed against him and what those charges actually mean
A timeline of how the story broke and why it escalated so quickly
What was publicly known vs. what was assumed early on
⚠️ Content AdvisoryThis episode includes discussion of:
Grave desecration
Human remains
Ethical and legal violations
Details are discussed factually and without graphic description, with a focus on accountability and respect for the dead.
Come back for parts 2 and 3!
Part 2: We trace how the investigation unfolded behind the scenes (thus far); what law enforcement could confirm, what remained unknown, and how silence was quickly filled by speculation. We separate documented evidence from public assumption, unpacking how screenshots, posts, and secondhand claims took on the weight of truth. We also confront why unverified details spread so easily, the ethical danger of online sleuthing when human remains are involved, and how noise, when left unchecked, can drown out victims, distort timelines, and quietly erode accountability.
Part 3: The historical and investigative significance of Mount Moriah Cemetery, how investigators narrowed their focus, and what the next steps are in this case in terms of identifying and contacting loved ones who were affected by this heinous crime.
Until next time, stay inside, stay alive.
References
13WHAM. (2026). Ephrata man Jonathan Gerlach admits to selling human remains stolen from Pennsylvania cemetery. https://13wham.com/news/nation-world/ephrata-man-jonathan-gerlach-admits-to-selling-human-remains-stolen-from-pa-cemetery-search-warrant-delaware-county-philadelphia-mount-moriah-cemetery-lancaster-pennsylvania-skulls-skeletons-pa (https://13wham.com/news/nation-world/ephrata-man-jonathan-gerlach-admits-to-selling-human-remains-stolen-from-pa-cemetery-search-warrant-delaware-county-philadelphia-mount-moriah-cemetery-lancaster-pennsylvania-skulls-skeletons-pa)
Courthouse News Service. (2026). Commonwealth of Pennsylvania v. Jonathan Gerlach: Corpse theft and desecration cemetery docket [Court document]. https://www.courthousenews.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/pennsylvania-v-jonathan-gerlach-corpse-theft-desecration-cemetery-docket.pdf (https://www.courthousenews.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/pennsylvania-v-jonathan-gerlach-corpse-theft-desecration-cemetery-docket.pdf)
LancasterOnline. (2026a). A look at investigation of human remains thefts linked to Ephrata suspect: Full coverage. https://lancasteronline.com/news/local/a-look-at-investigation-of-human-remains-thefts-linked-to-ephrata-suspect-full-coverage/collection_12941079-68a2-4c90-a05f-e00d075c3ae5.html (https://lancasteronline.com/news/local/a-look-at-investigation-of-human-remains-thefts-linked-to-ephrata-suspect-full-coverage/collection_12941079-68a2-4c90-a05f-e00d075c3ae5.html)
LancasterOnline. (2026b). PA Attorney General’s Office investigating if Ephrata man stole bodies from Luzerne County. <a...
Inside a recent episode
Ed Gein Wannabe? Jonathan Christ Gerlach w/Kelsey - Part 3
Published 21 Jan 2026 · Transcript excerpt
[…] Right. They're so large that they would have to have a guard station every 100 feet to be able to correctly monitor. It's funny that you say that though, because you know their shift is considered the graveyard shift because because of, yeah, monitoring the graveyard, right? But obviously we're not doing too good at it. Clearly. So bottom line, while both cases involved disturbing treatment of human remains, Edgene and Jonathan Gerlock are not the same type of offender, but they're very similar, right? Gene represents isolated psychotic violence. Very true. Gerlock's alleged crimes point to systematic neglect online. […]
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