Police expected to provide update on five missing women connected to same home

Law enforcement officials in Philadelphia are expected to share an update on Wednesday afternoon on five missing women who have been tied to an Olney home at the center of a sprawling death investigation.

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An investigation remains ongoing into the West Chew Avenue property as investigators continue to review hundreds of thousands of digital videos and photos connected to Raymond “R.C.” Horsch, who died in 2025 at age 82.

Horsch produced snuff films and wrote erotic books with sadomasochistic themes.

What lead to the investigation on Chew Avenue?

The home came to the attention of police after a park ranger stopped a BMW along the 600 block of Market Street in Philadelphia’s Old City neighborhood on June 19, 2026, to find Raymond Horsch’s son, Eugene Horsch, 44, and a woman who police have not provided additional identifying information on.

Officials said the park ranger found credentials on Horsch claiming he was a federal law enforcement officer and a DEA officer. Those credentials were later determined to be false.

The unidentified woman provided the identification of Blair Tonzelli, who disappeared in 2023, police said.

Inside the vehicle, the park ranger reported finding two handguns and approximately $8,000 worth of illegal drugs.

During the investigation, detectives learned that Eugene Horsch allegedly made a statement suggesting Tonzelli would “never be seen again,” according to court documents.

Federal officials search the Horsch home

Following that incident, officials began an initial search of Horsch’s Chew Avenue home in the Olney section of Philadelphia where they found at least one additional illegal firearm, a marijuana grow operation, another fake FBI badge and five urns containing cremated remains, investigators said.

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Then, on June 25, members of the Philadelphia Police Homicide Unit, ATF agents and a bomb disposal unit executed another search warrant. Investigators reported finding computer parts and what appeared to be a home laboratory with various containers of an unknown oily substance.

On Aug. 12, police said that video evidence they recovered from a hard drive found in the home led investigators to believe two missing women were no longer alive.

Who are the women tied to this property?

Investigators said the home is considered connected to cases for at least five missing women, three of whom are believed to be dead. Officials have not recovered the bodies of any of the women, however.

One of the women tied to the home is Blair Tonzelli. She disappeared in 2023 and, officials said, her identification was found on a woman who was arrested with the younger Horsch earlier this year.

Also, Raymond Horsch’s ex-wife, Amy McHale, disappeared in June 2016.

Then, investigators found evidence that they believe shows Horch strangling Nicole Fusaro, who disappeared in 2018 at the age of 27.

Finally, police say investigators recovered video evidence from a hard drive found at the home that led investigators to believe two other missing women — Maribel Fresses and Gabrielle Amarando — are no longer alive.

Fresses was last seen in 2018 while Amarando disappeared in 2012.

Anyone with information is asked to call Philadelphia police at 215-686-TIPS (8477). To speak directly with a homicide investigator, call 215-686-3334.

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