PHILADELPHIA — Investigators returned to the Horsch home in the Olney section of Philadelphia on Monday, September 28, 2026, with a search warrant. The execution of the warrant is part of an ongoing investigation that has linked seven missing women to the property owned by Eugene Horsch and his late father, R.C. Horsch.

The residence is located on West Chew Avenue in the Olney neighborhood. As of September 28, 2026, no human remains or bodies have been found at the property despite months of searching. Police have not found biological evidence confirming a homicide inside the house.

Detectives recovered more than one million digital files, including photos and videos, from hard drives at the property. Officials stated they have reviewed about 30% of the digital evidence and still have hundreds of thousands of files left to examine. Investigators have identified 58 individuals in the recovered photos and videos.

Police believe five of the missing women identified in the digital files are deceased. The Philadelphia Medical Examiner's Office reviewed images involving three additional women and advised investigators that, if the images are authentic and unaltered, the women depicted appear to be deceased. Philadelphia police stated they have viewed video appearing to show the strangulation of one woman.

"He was making movies. Some of this is play-acting. Some of it we believe could be real, but we're not there yet," said Deputy Commissioner Frank Vanore.

Detectives plan to focus on specific areas of the home depicted in photos and videos to look for physical evidence. Detectives could remove walls, floorboards, or other parts of the structure if evidence gives them reason to do so.

Previous searches at the home uncovered a home laboratory, chemicals, and an excavated segment of underground pipe. Chemicals removed from the home are undergoing testing at a laboratory in Chicago. Investigators are working with the FBI to review digital evidence and identify areas of the home to revisit.

Heavy construction equipment will be used in the search of the Horsch house starting October 5, 2026, with street closures and parking restrictions scheduled through October 16, 2026. Search activity at the house is expected to continue until mid-October. Officials warned residents near the home about disruptions from heavy machinery and daily officer presence.

"There's going to be some level of machinery involved, crew of federal and local officers and they're going to be out here every single day until they uncover all of the evidence possible," said Anthony Phillips, Philadelphia City Council member. Police and Philadelphia City Councilmember Anthony Phillips are expected to host a community meeting near the property on Sunday afternoon.

Neighbor Jennifer Hart expressed frustration with the pace of the response. "People have been saying for a while that something's not right," Hart said. "They said we could call, but calls have been made for years, so I'm not really satisfied," she added.

The investigation involves Eugene Horsch, who remains in federal custody and faces no charges connected to the missing women. A jury trial is scheduled for January in connection with the case involving Eugene Horsch. Pennsylvania prosecutors withdrew five state charges against Eugene Horsch on August 6. A federal grand jury indicted Eugene Horsch on charges of possession of a firearm by a felon and possession of an unlawfully produced document and authentication feature.

Eugene Horsch had a prior arrest for possession of a controlled substance and drug paraphernalia, according to court records from the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas. He was arrested in June outside Philadelphia's Independence Mall. The investigation began after the June 19, 2026, arrest of Eugene Albert Horsch on gun and drug charges.

R.C. Horsch died in 2025 at age 82. He was never charged in connection with the disappearances of the women. R.C. Horsch wrote a book titled "Memoir of an Empathetic Serial Killer." He operated a website depicting women in scenes involving sex, violence, and death, which he described as artistic depictions.

In 2013, R.C. Horsch was involved in a traffic stop where police found him with an eye patch, binoculars, camera gear, and a condom. In 2018, R.C. Horsch was the subject of a complaint filed by a local woman who alleged he stalked her and sent threatening messages, as documented in a Philadelphia Municipal Court case.

Amy McHale disappeared in 2016 in her mid-40s. She was married to R.C. Horsch before divorcing him. Gabrielle Amarando disappeared in 2012 in her early 20s.

Maribel Fresses disappeared in 2018 in her early 20s. Blair Tonzelli vanished in 2023.

Why It Matters

The scale of the digital evidence recovery, comprising more than one million files, indicates a prolonged and extensive documentation effort by the occupants. With officials having reviewed only about 30% of the material, the identification of 58 individuals suggests a broad network of contacts that investigators must vet. The involvement of the FBI and the use of heavy construction equipment reflect the resource intensity required to process both the digital and physical aspects of the case.

The connection to seven missing women spans nearly two decades, with disappearances reported between 2012 and 2023. The absence of confirmed human remains despite previous discoveries of a home laboratory and chemicals leaves critical questions regarding the fate of the missing women unresolved. The upcoming jury trial for Eugene Horsch on unrelated federal charges proceeds separately from the missing persons investigation, which continues to seek physical corroboration of the digital evidence.

Timeline

In 2009, investigators discovered an eye patch, binoculars, camera gear, and a condom inside R.C. Horsch's car after he attempted to abduct a 9-year-old girl. That same year, R.C. Horsch faced federal charges following a raid at his former home in Chalfont, Pennsylvania, where police located an illegal marijuana grow operation. In 2012, an unidentified woman reported meeting R.C. Horsch and Eugene Horsch in Camden, New Jersey.

The unidentified woman stated Eugene Horsch threatened her in Camden weeks after their initial encounter. Also in 2012, Gabrielle Amarando disappeared in her early 20s.

R.C. Horsch was released from prison in 2013. That same year, R.C. Horsch appeared in a film titled "Deleted Scenes: A Serial Killer's Video Journal."

What's New

The Philadelphia Police Department conducted a community outreach initiative in 2020 aimed at addressing concerns about predatory behavior in the Olney neighborhood, which may have included awareness of the Horsch family's activities.

Investigators have identified 58 individuals in photos and videos recovered from the Horsch property, with officials stating they have reviewed about 30% of the digital evidence and still have hundreds of thousands of files left to examine.

A 2016 film titled 'Deleted Scenes: A Serial Killer's Video Journal' featuring R.C. Horsch was cited in a report by the FBI as part of its investigation into violent pornography and potential links to missing persons cases. "He was making movies. Some of this is play-acting. Some of it we believe could be real, but we're not there yet," said Deputy Commissioner Frank Vanore.