PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) – A Philadelphia police investigation that began with an illegally parked vehicle has expanded into a search involving five women who may be missing and are feared dead.
Police say a search of the vehicle and a home connected to the man inside uncovered weapons, drugs, unusual identification documents and more than a million digital files. Some of the files appear to show women who may be unconscious or possibly lifeless.
Traffic stop leads to search
Philadelphia officers first found 44-year-old Eugene Horsch in June parked illegally in a space reserved for law enforcement, with a woman in the back seat.
Inside his car, investigators found guns, drugs, weapons and a fake DEA ID card bearing Horsch’s photo, according to a criminal complaint.
Searches of Horsch’s home turned up more drugs, weapons and what police described as disturbing evidence.
“There was a homemade laboratory of some kind in the basement area. There were five urns believed to be containing human ashes, a large amount of digital evidence,” said Frank Vanore, deputy commissioner of investigations for Philadelphia police.
Digital evidence under review
According to police, more than 1 million digital images were recovered, along with thousands of videos. Police say some of the material is likely linked to Horsch’s late father, reportedly a drug manufacturer and erotic filmmaker whose work depicted violent themes.
Among the images are photos of at least five women who appear unconscious or possibly dead, including one strangled by a zip tie.
“At the center of the investigation are the victims and the families and they deserve answers,” said Wayne Jacobs, FBI special agent in charge.
Police say they have yet to find physical evidence, DNA or any bodies.
Father’s history examined
Mary Ellen O’Toole, a former senior FBI profiler, said investigators are likely questioning Horsch about his late father.
“That’s a lot less threatening. It would be very rare, not impossible, that father and son both have the same criminal type of behavior, and for the father, it looks like he has indications of being a sexual sadist,” O’Toole said.
The FBI says it has reviewed about 30 percent of the digital evidence so far.
Horsch remains in federal custody on gun charges. His attorney has said he plans to plead not guilty.
Two victims identified
Police have publicly identified two of the women in the images as 26-year-old Maribel Fresses and 27-year-old Gabrielle Amarando. Two others have been identified but are not being named at the request of their families. One remains unidentified.
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