Hungarian Man Arrested for Collecting Human Body Parts from Cemeteries and Hospital
Police in Hungary have arrested a 30-year-old man from Budapest on suspicion of illegal use of human bodies after discovering a disturbing collection of human remains at his home and workplace. The investigation, led by Hungary’s National Bureau of Investigation, uncovered evidence of what authorities describe as a systematic effort to obtain and store dissected human body parts.
Disturbing Discovery During Search
During a search of the man’s residence and workplace, investigators found a dissected human face, facial skin, and bones stored in a suitcase. Additional remains recovered included a complete lower leg, a brain, a hand, a head, a skull, and a heart preserved in a jar. Authorities noted that one final body part is still being examined to determine whether it is of human or animal origin. All seized remains are being analyzed by forensic experts as the investigation continues.
Suspect Allegedly Consumed Human Remains
During interrogation, the man reportedly told investigators that he was “particularly attracted to human body parts, from which he prepared food and consumed them in various ways.” Police described the suspect as someone who was “passionate about anatomy and pathology and enjoys dissecting animals,” suggesting a long-standing fascination with biological specimens that ultimately crossed into criminal territory.
Body Parts Allegedly Sourced from Hospitals and Abandoned Cemeteries
Authorities suspect the man obtained the human remains through two primary channels: his employment at a hospital and the excavation of corpses from abandoned cemeteries in both Slovakia and Hungary. The cross-border nature of the alleged grave-robbing has added complexity to the investigation, requiring coordination between law enforcement agencies in multiple countries.
Police also seized the man’s computer, laptops, tablets, mobile phones, SIM cards, and data cards as part of the ongoing investigation. The suspect is currently being held on suspicion of illegal use of human bodies while authorities work to identify the origins of the recovered remains and determine whether any families of the deceased can be notified.
Similar Case in the United States
The Hungarian case is not an isolated incident. In January, a 34-year-old man from Pennsylvania, Jonathan Gerlach, was arrested and faces more than 500 charges after police accused him of stealing human skulls and numerous skeletal remains from an abandoned cemetery on the outskirts of Philadelphia.
The investigation into Gerlach began after bones and skulls were spotted visible in the back seat of a car near Mount Moriah Cemetery, which was established in 1855. Investigators determined that Gerlach had repeatedly been near the cemetery during a series of break-ins dating back to early November 2025, in which at least 26 mausoleums and vaults were forced open.
Over 100 Human Skulls Found in Pennsylvania Susposs Home
After searching Gerlach’s home and a storage unit, investigators reported finding more than 100 human skulls, long bones, mummified hands and feet, two decaying torsos, and other skeletal items. Delaware County District Attorney Tanner Rouse described the scene in stark terms, stating that investigators “saw a horror movie come to life” and calling the discovery “truly, literally, horrific.”
Gerlach was ultimately arrested as he walked back to his car carrying a crowbar near the cemetery. He has been charged with 100 counts each of abuse of a corpse and receiving stolen property, along with multiple counts of desecration of a public monument, desecration of a revered object, desecration of a historic gravesite, burglary, trespassing, and theft.
Both cases have drawn significant public attention and raised concerns about the security of abandoned cemeteries and the potential for exploitation of human remains. Authorities in both countries continue their investigations.
