Philadelphia police and FBI examine extensive digital evidence in missing women case linked to Horsch property
Investigators have recovered over one million pieces of digital evidence and physical items from a home in Olney, uncovering videos of unconscious women and five urns believed to contain human ashes, while urging the public to be patient as the review continues.
Philadelphia police and the FBI have seized more than one million pieces of digital evidence, including videos, cameras, computers, hard drives and phones, from a house on West Chew Avenue in the city’s Olney neighborhood. The seizure is part of an investigation into the disappearances of at least five women and is connected to 44-year-old Eugene Horsch, who faces federal charges for weapons possession and impersonating a federal officer after his June 18 arrest.
During a July excavation of a pipe at the residence, authorities also recovered chemicals, drugs, firearms and nearly 120 pieces of ballistic evidence, as well as five urns in the basement that are believed to contain human ashes. Video files dating back to 2017 show multiple unconscious women; officials have not confirmed any deaths from the footage.
"I’ve got to caution you and emphasize we did never recover a body here," Deputy Commissioner Frank Vanore said. "Mr. Horsch is deceased at this time, and we still need to find evidence to corroborate what appears to have occurred in this video."
Vanore noted that at least 58 individuals have been identified in the videos, with four appearing lifeless and 10 later dying of overdoses elsewhere in Philadelphia. Sixteen people seen in the footage have been interviewed, though cooperation has been limited, and 25 individuals known to be alive are slated for future interviews.
FBI special agent Wayne Jacobs said only about 30% of the collected material has been examined, emphasizing the complexity of the review process.
"This is simply not a matter of moving through a queue," Jacobs said. "There are multiple layers that make up the review process. We have a significant number of FBI personnel examining items one at a time for potential evidentiary or investigative value."
Police Commissioner Kevin Bethel asked the public to be patient, stating that the investigation will proceed methodically and may not match the speed some desire.
"We have to get this right. We’re going to walk through methodically. It may not move at the pace that folks want. Folks want to get to the finish line before we actually go through," Bethel said.