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Bones discovered in backyard of Philadelphia House of Horrors
Police discovered bones in the backyard of a Philadelphia home linked to the disappearances of seven women, several of whom are feared dead.
On Thursday (October 15), the Philadelphia Medical Examiner's Office responded to the house at 417 West Chew Ave.
The residence reportedly belonged to Raymond "R.C." Horsch, a pornographic filmmaker who died in 2025, according to PEOPLE, and his son Eugene.
Authorities have not yet confirmed whether the bones are human or animal. Additional testing is needed to determine the origin and whether they are connected to the investigation.
What have investigators discovered inside the home?
Richard Marx, a retired FBI supervisory agent who specialized in evidence collection, told CBS News that the medical examiner’s involvement is a big development.
"If they find something related to the body, then that's when they would want to call the medical examiner, bring them aboard, have them collect it, and have them take it to their office for examination," Marx said.
During their search, detectives dismantled parts of the property, uncovering laboratory equipment, chemical containers, and suspected human DNA.
They also excavated about three feet into the backyard, where opossum carcasses had previously been found, and found the remains of a brick outhouse in the yard as well.
Investigators believe Horsch may have used a chemical process known as alkaline hydrolysis to dispose of bodies, a method he reportedly detailed in one of his books, in which he allegedly called himself an empathetic serial killer.
Chemicals recovered from the home were sent to laboratories for testing.
Seven missing women linked to the property
The massive investigation kicked off in June when Horsch's son was arrested during a traffic stop, with police later recovering $8,000 worth of illegal drugs, two handguns, and false federal law enforcement officer credentials belonging to Eugene.
The police subsequently recovered more than one million digital images and videos, including disturbing footage connected to the seven missing women.
Among those identified were Blair Tonzelli, Amy McHale, Maribel Fresses, Gabrielle Amarando, and Nicole Fusaro, per NBC News.
According to investigators, four women appeared to be "lifeless" in the recovered files.
McHale was Horsch's former wife, and she went missing in June 2016 after she was last seen at his home.
Fresses and Amarando, who have been missing since 2018 and 2012, are two of the women who were allegedly shown "unconscious and injured" in the files.
Meanwhile, Tonzelli was last seen in 2023, and she was linked to Eugene's June arrest after a woman accompanying him was carrying her identification.
Eugene remains in custody and is facing charges of possession, possession with the intent to deliver, and multiple weapon-related offenses.
He has not been charged with any crimes related to the missing women. His attorney denied any suggestion that he is responsible for any disappearances or deaths.