Philadelphia man arrested after police find chemicals, weapons and handwritten note in Olney home
Eugene Horsch, 44, was taken into custody on drug and firearms charges after a search of his Olney residence uncovered hazardous chemicals, multiple guns, and a handwritten letter referencing serial killer Ted Bundy.
Philadelphia police announced Friday that 44-year-old Eugene Horsch was arrested on drug-related and firearms charges after a joint FBI and local law-enforcement search of his three-story home in the Olney neighborhood revealed a large cache of chemicals, a 55-gallon drum, several firearms with obliterated serial numbers and a handwritten note that mentioned serial killer Ted Bundy.
The investigation began after a U.S. park ranger overheard an argument between Horsch and his girlfriend near Independence Hall on June 19, during which the girlfriend warned that Horsch might hurt her. The ranger reported the incident, prompting police to locate the couple and discover that Horsch was carrying a counterfeit DEA badge, a switchblade and two guns with altered serial numbers. The girlfriend possessed a fake ID bearing the name of a woman reported missing in February 2023 from the Kensington area.
During the search, officers found roughly 120 pieces of ballistic evidence, a variety of chemicals stored in bottles and the large drum connected to water lines, as well as narcotics and materials that suggested an attempt to produce additional drugs. A handwritten, unsigned letter found at the scene referenced “acting on emotion,” a pre-planned threat, a zip tie and the drum, and expressed that the writer found the situation “fun." Police are determining the author and whether the note reflects genuine intent.
Investigators also recovered a bank card linked to the missing woman and a death certificate for another woman who died the previous year. Several urns were discovered, one bearing the name of a Horsch family member, prompting homicide investigators to join the probe. No human remains have been found at the property.
Horsch, a convicted felon with a prior assault conviction, is the son of the late R.C. Horsch, an erotic photographer who previously faced forgery charges and was investigated in 1977 for a home meth-lab. Horsch’s attorney suggested that some of the chemical materials might belong to the father’s past activities.
Authorities, including federal hazmat teams from Quantico, entered the home in protective gear and will continue to examine the chemicals and other evidence. The FBI has not provided additional comment.