Eugene Horsch arrest: Federal gun case delayed amid growing investigation into Philadelphia home

PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) — One of the men at the center of a Philadelphia investigation involving a home tied to several missing women will not return to court on federal weapons charges for several months.

Jerome Brown, an attorney for Eugene Horsch, confirmed that Horsch’s next court hearing has been postponed until March 22.

Court records indicate the delay is due in part to a busy trial schedule and counsel’s need for additional time in the case.

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

Horsch was arrested on June 19 after a federal park ranger spotted a black BMW parked in a restricted area on the 600 block of Market Street near Independence Mall.

According to investigators, the ranger suspected possible drug activity and requested identification from Horsch and a woman who was inside the vehicle.

Authorities said Horsch presented what appeared to be fake DEA and FBI credentials. Investigators also allege the woman provided an identification card bearing her photograph but the name of missing woman Blair Tonzelli.

The woman later told investigators that Horsch had given her the identification, authorities said.

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

Investigators reported recovering two loaded firearms, including one with an obliterated serial number, along with a switchblade knife, a cattle prod device, a collapsible baton, handcuffs and crack cocaine from the vehicle.

Horsch has remained in custody since his arrest.

He was indicted in early July for being a convicted felon in possession of guns, including one with an obliterated serial number, as well as being in possession of fake DEA and FBI credentials.

The arrest led investigators to search Horsch’s home on West Chew Avenue in Philadelphia’s Olney neighborhood, launching a far broader investigation.

Philadelphia police have since connected seven women to the property, most of whom have been reported missing.

Investigators say more than one million digital images and videos were recovered from the home. Some of that material appears to show women who are injured, unconscious or possibly lifeless, according to authorities.

Despite the discovery, no bodies have been recovered and no disappearance-related charges have been filed.

Investigators are also examining Horsch’s father, Raymond “R.C.” Horsch, who died in 2025 and also lived at the property.

Police are reviewing thousands of pages of writings, manuscripts and drawings by Raymond ‘R.C.’ Horsch as part of an ongoing investigation, authorities said.

Authorities have reviewed thousands of pages of writings, manuscripts and drawings authored by the elder Horsch as part of the ongoing investigation.

A spokesperson for Amazon confirmed that all of R.C. Horsch’s books have been removed from the platform for violating company content guidelines.

Among the works drawing scrutiny is a book titled Empathy, which is described as the autobiography of “a caring, compassionate, empathetic serial killer.”

Philadelphia police and the FBI continue to review and test evidence tied to the home, which remains under police guard.

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