HARRISBURG, Pa. (WHP) — One Pennsylvania man is accused of robbing graves and selling those remains, another pleaded guilty to buying and selling stolen remains as part of an international ring, but neither could be charged with selling stolen body parts under PA law. Now, one state representative is looking to change that.
Luzerne County Republican Rep. Brenda Pugh recently introduced House Bill 2256. If passed it would make stealing and selling stolen remains a third-degree felony in Pennsylvania.
“It will give our attorneys the charges that they can actually bring against individuals that actually do this,” said Rep. Pugh.
Currently in PA, a person can be charged with abusing a corpse or they can face stolen property crimes in connection with human remains. However, the act of selling body parts is not illegal.
Rep. Pugh says this isn’t about going after people who are legally sourcing remains, but those who are disturbing a person’s final wishes or resting place.
“I just can’t imagine somebody going in and taking my father’s head and selling it,” said Rep. Pugh. “I think we need to finally take a stance and put our foot down and say, no, this is wrong. We have to stop doing this.”
Rep. Pugh said she got the idea for the bill when she learned that Jonathan Gerlach wouldn’t be criminally charged for selling the remains that he’s accused of stealing.
READ MORE | ‘Amish Country’s Ed Gein’: Inside Jonathan Gerlach’s grave robbing crimes
Members of the oddities community, and sellers of body parts have previously told CBS 21 that they felt there was a need for more laws.
That includes Jeremy Pauley who is the man who pleaded guilty to federal charges in connection with a multi-state ring of buying and selling remains. He’s currently serving a six-year prison sentence.
“I think more stringent guidelines and regulations in certain fields would absolutely prevent this from happening,” said Pauley in an interview with CBS 21 just before he turned himself into federal custody.
Rep. Pugh’s bill has received bipartisan support in the PA House of Representatives.
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It’s currently in the House Judiciary Committee awaiting a vote.