Former FBI agent explains challenges in case involving Philadelphia home, missing women

PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) — Philadelphia police are receiving new tips from the public as investigators continue their sprawling probe into a home in the city’s Olney neighborhood that has been linked to multiple missing women.

Sources told Action News that several tips were submitted through a hotline following a news conference Wednesday in which investigators revealed that five missing women were identified in photos and videos recovered from the property located at W. Chew Ave.

According to police, the women appear injured, lifeless or possibly deceased in some of the images. Investigators are also concerned about the whereabouts of two additional women connected to the home who have not appeared in the recovered photos or videos.

Detectives are now reviewing terabytes of digital evidence seized from the residence where Eugene Horsch and his late father, Raymond “R.C.” Horsch, lived.

Retired FBI agent and ABC News consultant Brad Garrett said the volume and complexity of the evidence could make the investigation a lengthy one.

“First of all, you have to link someone, or someone’s, to the actual death of a person,” Garrett said. “Now, is that going to be done with video? Is it going to be done with circumstantial evidence of folks that knew the victim, that apparently knew Raymond or Eugene or other people potentially involved in this case? It’s going to take a while, probably, unless they get some big-time cooperation.”

“Just like the Long Island serial killer case, this could go on for several months before it really all goes together,” he added.

Eugene Horsch has remained in custody on federal weapons charges since his arrest in June, which led investigators to search the property and uncover the evidence.

The home in Philadelphia’s Olney section is linked to several missing women, investigators say

Police said R.C. Horsch appears in numerous sexually explicit and violent photos and videos recovered during the investigation.

Authorities have also seized chemicals, drugs, firearms, ballistic evidence and a 55-gallon drum connected to water lines inside the home.

Investigators have removed plumbing pipes from the property and sent them to a federal laboratory in Chicago for testing.

“This is the type of case that, in all likelihood, there could be several victims deceased,” Garrett said. “I think the first one we know about was in 2012. That was 14 years ago. What has happened between then and, in particular, when Raymond died in 2025? There’s a lot to do in this case.”

So far, investigators have not recovered the remains of any of the women connected to the case. However, extensive forensic testing remains underway.

Police said they are also planning a community meeting for residents living near the Chew Avenue home, which is expected to take place in the coming weeks.

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