House of horrors search for 7 missing women feared dead ramps up as sniffer dogs and forensic teams move in

The investigation into a Philadelphia house of horrors once owned by a suspected serial killer has ramped up as police and the FBI have brought sniffing dogs and plan to search for traces of blood.

Investigators have conducted several searches of the house that belonged to Raymond ‘RC’ Horsch, who died last year at the age of 82. He was an adult film maker and an author of books featuring serial killers who prey on women. 

Seven missing women are believed to be connected to Horsch and his two-story brick house in Philadelphia’s Olney neighborhood.

During an initial search of the home, police found more than one million images and videos allegedly depicting sex, drug use and even at least one snuff film.

Officers have identified at least 58 different alleged victims in the evidence, saying at least five of the women in the videos appear to be lifeless or unconscious. 

The FBI joined the investigation on Tuesday, and on Friday authorities brought in the Philadelphia Police Department’s electronic-sniffing dog named Cache, as well as other K-9s, sources told CBS News. 

Cache, a black Labrador, is trained to detect hidden file-storing data drives by smelling the oils on their surface. 

Investigators are also planning to use luminol in the house on Monday. The chemical reacts with iron in blood to emit a temporary blue glow, even if the blood has been cleaned up. 

Police plan to use the chemical after dusk, as any chemical reactions would be easier to see under low-light conditions. 

Then on Tuesday, authorities will bring heavy equipment to the property in an effort to dig up any potential evidence that could tie Horsch to the missing women.

Police have not reported any bodies to have been found in or around the house as of Sunday. It was also not announced whether the search with Cache yielded additional digital evidence. 

The missing women seen in the videos obtained by investigators include Gabrielle Amarando, Maribel Fresses and Nicole Fusaro, all of whom went missing years ago, sources told CBS. 

RC Horsch’s ex-wife, Amy McHale, and another woman tied to him, Blair Tonzelli, also remain missing. 

Ten others seen in the evidence reportedly overdosed and were found in locations across Philadelphia, while 16 other alleged victims were found alive but were ‘not very cooperative’ and did not want to discuss what occurred in the home. Three refused to speak to investigators.

Authorities are now working to speak with 25 other alleged victims they have identified from the unsettling videos and images.

Investigators were led to the home just days after a federal park ranger interacted with Eugene, the son of the alleged serial killer, who now owns the home and resided there with his late father. 

Eugene was inside a vehicle with a woman in an unrestricted area in Independence National Historical Park on June 19, according to a legal complaint reviewed by the Daily Mail.

When the officer approached the black BMW, he heard the female say something along the lines of ‘you’re going to hurt me!’ as Eugene rolled the window down, the complaint read.

The ranger quickly noticed sores on both of their arms, ‘which are common among illegal drug users,’ according to the document.

Eugene was holding tweezers and a butane lighter was clearly visible inside the car, the ranger noted.

Based on what he observed, the ranger asked Eugene and the woman to provide identification, according to the complaint.

Records then showed that the woman’s ID belonged to a missing person reported out of Philadelphia, which led the officer to ask Eugene to step out of the car, per the complaint.

NBC reports that the ID belonged to Blair Tonzelli, who had been missing since 2023.

The disturbing find led authorities to conduct a search of Eugene and his father’s home, where they found the creepy videos and images.

The home also contained at least one illegal gun, ammunition, chemicals, a fake FBI badge, a marijuana growing operation and five urns containing cremated remains, according to police.

Eugene remains behind bars on drug and gun charges as his lawyer said he is upset that the house will be destroyed by the police activity inside.