Bones Found at Philadelphia ‘House of Horrors’ During Investigation Into 7 Missing Women

Investigators in Philadelphia have uncovered bones and a hidden safe after they dismantled parts of a home that once belonged to late pornographer Raymond Charles “R.C” Horsch, as authorities continue to gather evidence in the disappearances of at least seven women, according to new reports.

The bones were unearthed last week in the backyard of Horsch's run-down house in the 400 block of West Chew Avenue in the Olney neighborhood currently owned by his jailed son, sources told NBC10 Philadelphia.

The Philadelphia Medical Examiner's Office was called to the scene to transport the bones to a forensic laboratory to determine whether they belong to a human or an animal.

Meanwhile, the FBI Evidence Response Team sifted through dirt beneath a tent erected in the dug-up yard. Additional excavations are expected to take place at the front of the property in the coming days.

Just days earlier, authorities uncovered a safe inside the home while tearing up walls and floorboards in search of clues. There was no immediate word on the contents of the safe. 

These revelations mark the latest developments in a monthslong, multiagency investigation that was triggered by the June arrest of Horsch's adult son, Eugene Horsch, who owns the West Chew Avenue home at the center of the disturbing case.

Chilling discoveries

Authorities previously seized more than 1 million photographs and videos from the house.
Based on this colossal trove of evidence, police believe at least five of the seven missing women linked to the case are possibly deceased, though no bodies have been recovered.

"Based on the video and photo evidence, if the images in the video are real and not altered in any way, based on their review, the M.E. would believe the individuals depicted in the images are deceased," said Philadelphia Police Inspector Ray Evers.

One of the videos, bearing metadata from 2017, allegedly depicts the elder Horsch strangling a naked woman after giving her drugs, handcuffing her to a bed, and securing a zip tie around her neck. 

Sources identified that woman as 27-year-old Nicole Fusaro, who was reported missing in 2018.

Additional recordings retrieved from hard drives taken from the residence allegedly showed two more missing women, identified as Gabrielle Amarando, 22, and Maribel Fresses, 28, appearing to be dead. 

Amarando has been missing since 2012, while Fresses was last seen alive in 2018.

In 2016, in the interval between Amarando and Fresses' disappearances, Raymond Horsch's 44-year-old wife, Amy McHale, vanished without a trace from the couple's home in 2016.

Property history and community impact

Property records show that the home was transferred to Eugene's ownership in 2007 for a disclosed price of $40,114. The prior owner, Raymond's aunt Helen Hoersch, died in the home in 2004 at the age of 83, according to her obituary.

Raymond signed the deed transferring ownership to his son, Eugene, using power of attorney for his deceased aunt, according to records reviewed by Realtor.com®.

The future of the home is unknown at this time. Councilman Anthony Phillips, whose district includes Olney, stated that a formal municipal process will determine the fate of Horsch’s property only upon the completion of the criminal investigation.

Potential outcomes may include condemnation, demolition, or heavy remediation.

For now, the investigative work at the house has caused major disruptions in the community, as authorities closed roads, deployed heavy excavation machinery, and imposed parking restrictions to carry out searches. 

Neighbors have expressed concern about the potential impact of this case on their community. 

 "It's not good, it’s not good for the neighborhood,” local resident Han Red told Fox29.  

Phillips has hosted community meetings to update neighbors on the progress of the case and address their concerns.

"A house like this can put a stain on a block," Phillips told NewsNation. Residents have questions about how long investigators will remain there, where people will be allowed to walk, and whether streets or sidewalks could be dug up during the search, he added.

Fateful traffic stop

Raymond Horsch, a prolific filmmaker and author of violent pornography, died from an illness in 2025 without ever facing changes related to any of the missing persons cases. 

Police became aware of suspicious activity at the West Chew Avenue home only after Horsch’s 44-year-old son was pulled over in June. Eugene Horsch was driving a BMW with a female passenger who possessed an ID card bearing the name Blair Tonzelli. 

According to the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System, Tonzelli has been missing since 2023. 

A search of Eugene’s vehicle allegedly produced two illegal loaded handguns, crack cocaine, a switchblade, a cattle prod, and a fake DEA badge. 

When officers subsequently executed search warrants at his house, they allegedly uncovered another illegal gun, urns with cremains, a marijuana grow operation, and a makeshift laboratory with 20 containers filled with an oily substance. 

In the basement, police came upon what Deputy Police Commissioner Frank Vanore described as a "strange setup” involving a 55-gallon drum piped to water lines. 

Elsewhere in the house, authorities found chilling writings that referenced serial killer Ted Bundy and discussed "disposing of trash that needs to go."

Eugene, whose prior criminal history includes assault, battery by a vehicle, and drug convictions, has been indicted on federal firearms and impersonation counts. He remains in custody.