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.
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