PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) — Police are reviewing thousands of pages of writings, manuscripts and drawings authored by Raymond “R.C.” Horsch as part of an ongoing investigation, authorities said.
All of Horsch’s books have been removed from Amazon for violating the company’s content guidelines, according to a spokesperson. The removal occurred this week, more than a year after his death.
Among the works under scrutiny is “Empathy,” a book obtained by Action News and described as the autobiography of “a caring, compassionate, empathetic serial killer.” In the book, he states: “I’m a murderer.”
The book also clearly states that it is a work of fiction.
RELATED: Timeline of investigation into missing women connected to Horsch Philly house
However, its contents are drawing renewed attention following recent revelations that seven missing and unidentified women have been connected to Horsch’s home on Chew Avenue.
Horsch was known for producing violent pornography. During an August news conference, Philadelphia police said over 10,000 pages of writings, manuscripts and drawings were being used as evidence in the investigation.
On page 118 of “Empathy”, Horsch describes giving a woman drugs, chaining a woman to a bed and choking her to death.
Police on Wednesday described finding similar circumstances in video evidence recovered from the home.
RELATED: What we know about 7 women linked to investigation at home in Philadelphia neighborhood
“The female uses narcotics, during the course of this time, she is then given money by Mr. Horsch, and then affixed to the bed with handcuffs by him. At some point, using channel lock tool of some kind, he puts a zip tie around her neck. She becomes unconscious on the video. Appeared to be lifeless,” said Philadelphia Police Deputy Commissioner Frank Vanore.
The book also describes using lye to dissolve a body in a bathtub in a basement, stating: “the roiling liquid turns brown and opaque and her defleshed, leering skull sinks out of sight.”
The passage continues by describing the disposal of the liquid through a storm drain.
When police searched the home in June following the arrest of Horsch’s son, Eugene Horsch, on unrelated charges, investigators found a 55-gallon drum in the basement and removed the home’s sewer line for examination.
Copyright © 2026 WPVI-TV. All Rights Reserved.