Philadelphia police and the FBI have returned to a property in the city’s Olney neighbourhood to search for forensic evidence linked to at least seven missing women.
The investigation centres on a house on West Chew Avenue where Eugene Horsch, 44, lived with his father, Raymond “R.C.” Horsch, who died in 2025. Authorities believe five of the women connected to the property may be dead, although no victims’ bodies have been recovered. ([cbsnews.com](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/philadelphia-olney-house-investigation/))
Investigators are expected to excavate parts of the site over a period of at least two weeks, bringing in heavy machinery and restricting parking and traffic around the house. Flooring, drywall and furniture may also be removed as police examine the building for evidence.
Philadelphia house searched for clues to missing women
The case began in June when Horsch was arrested after a police encounter near Philadelphia’s Independence National Historical Park. A woman travelling with him was carrying identification belonging to Blair Tonzelli, who had been missing since 2023, according to court documents.
Officers also found weapons, drugs and forged documents identifying Horsch as a federal law-enforcement officer. The discovery led investigators to search the Chew Avenue property, where they found firearms evidence, a small marijuana-growing operation and a large collection of digital material.
More than one million photographs and videos have been recovered from the home. Police have identified 58 people in the material, while detectives continue to assess whether scenes showing violence were staged or depicted real events. Investigators had reviewed about 30 per cent of the archive by mid-September. ([cbsnews.com](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/philadelphia-olney-house-investigation/))
Among the women linked to the investigation are Gabrielle Amarando, Maribel Fresses, Nicole Fusaro, Amy McHale and Tonzelli. Police have said images appear to show some of the women injured or lifeless, but have stressed that the material must be corroborated.
Authorities have also recovered five urns containing cremated remains. Investigators believe some belong to members of the Horsch family or an acquaintance, but testing is continuing and no remains have been confirmed as belonging to any of the missing women. ([cbsnews.com](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/philadelphia-olney-house-investigation/))
A makeshift basement laboratory containing chemicals, vats and an unidentified sludge is also being examined. Law-enforcement sources said detectives are seeking to establish whether so-called wet cremations, using chemicals to break down human remains, took place at the property.
Police have not charged Eugene Horsch in connection with any missing-person investigation. He remains in custody on weapons, drugs and alleged impersonation offences while awaiting trial, with his next court date scheduled for March 22, 2027.
Investigators have said the inquiry remains ongoing and that no conclusion has been reached about what happened to the women. Philadelphia Police Commissioner Kevin Bethel said detectives were working to establish whether any of the missing people died at the house or elsewhere. ([inquirer.com](https://www.inquirer.com/news/raymond-horsch-philadelphia-missing-women-dead-20260916.html))
