Investigators dismantle shed at home linked to missing women – NBC10 Philadelphia

Local and federal investigators continued the investigation on Tuesday, Oct. 13, at a Philadelphia home connected to seven missing women, dismantling a wooden shed and collecting evidence from the backyard of the property.

The investigation centers on a home along Chew Avenue in Philadelphia’s Olney neighborhood that belonged to the late Raymond Horsch, who had ties to all seven missing women. Police believe five of the women are presumed dead.

It remains unclear whether investigators have recovered evidence that could help determine what happened to the women.

NBC10’s DroneForce10 captured investigators taking down a wooden shed in the backyard Tuesday before using shovels to collect dirt and placing it into brown bags.

From the ground, much of the activity was obscured, but NBC10 cameras captured glimpses of the work, including a member of the crime scene unit handing two small evidence bags to the FBI.

The search follows another round of investigative work Monday evening, when crews sprayed a chemical compound called “Luminol” on the floors and walls inside the home.

Law enforcement sources said the chemical revealed locations of DNA, although it remains unknown whether any of that DNA belongs to the seven missing women.

How the investigation began

The property has been under 24-hour surveillance since late June, following the arrest of Horsch’s son, Eugene Horsch, on charges of impersonating a federal agent.

According to the original report, a woman who was with the younger Horsch provided police with an identification card belonging to another woman who had been missing for years.

That discovery raised concerns among investigators and led police to the Chew Avenue property, which has since become the focus of an extensive investigation involving local and federal law enforcement.

What’s next in the search?

Investigators are expected to shift their attention to the front yard on Wednesday, Oct. 14, according to law enforcement sources.

Crews hope to complete this phase of the investigation before the end of the week.

For now, authorities have not confirmed whether evidence collected at the property will provide answers about the seven missing women.

This story was originally reported for broadcast by NBC Philadelphia. AI tools helped convert the story to a digital article, and an NBC Philadelphia journalist edited the article for publication.