A Philadelphia man, Raymond 'R.C.' Horsch, who died last year, once boasted on a 2013 podcast that he was a "natural" at playing a "perverted serial killer." His comments have resurfaced as police investigate the disappearances of at least four women who had personal ties to him.
Investigators are meticulously examining hundreds of thousands of photographs, videos, and writings recovered from Horsch's property in the Olney neighborhood. This extensive digital archive, described by authorities as "graphic and dark," is being scoured for clues in the vanishing of these women.
Two of the missing women, Gabrielle Amarando, 22, and Maribel Fresses, 27, are now believed to be dead. Police allege that initial review of recovered material showed images and videos depicting them alive within the property and later deceased. However, their bodies have not been recovered, and authorities have not disclosed the suspected cause or circumstances of their deaths.
Blair Tonzelli, 35, another missing woman, was allegedly featured nude on Horsch's pornographic website with apparent injuries, including a black eye and blood on her lip. Archived records indicate the image remained on his website for months after she was reported missing in February 2023. Tonzelli was reportedly last seen at Horsch's home the previous summer. Her friends stated she had a history of drug addiction and met Horsch in a neighborhood known for drug activity.
Amy McHale, Horsch's former wife and film collaborator, was last seen at the Olney property in 2016 and remains missing. The property is now linked to at least four missing women.
The Investigation's Genesis
The sprawling investigation was reportedly triggered by the arrest of Horsch's son, Eugene Albert Horsch, 44. Police encountered Eugene in June with a woman who allegedly used a fake identification bearing Tonzelli's name. During the encounter, officers reportedly found illegal handguns, drugs, and a fraudulent Drug Enforcement Administration badge with Eugene's photograph. These discoveries led investigators to the Horsch family home, where additional fake identification with Tonzelli's name and one of her bank cards were allegedly found.
Eugene Horsch is currently in federal custody on a firearms charge and faces charges related to false federal credentials. He has not been charged in connection with the disappearances of the missing women.
Horsch's Past and Digital Archive
Raymond 'R.C.' Horsch, who died in 2023 at age 82, never faced charges related to the disappearances. For decades, he produced adult films, photographs, and books often featuring disturbing and violent themes. During the 2013 podcast interview on The Rialto Report, Horsch discussed his roles in adult films, stating, "I, of course, was kind of a natural as a perverted serial killer, wasn't much of a stretch at all." He also spoke of not liking society or civilization and described himself as a sociopath.
His creative output frequently depicted graphic scenarios, and he acknowledged recruiting women struggling with drug addiction for his work. An extensive investigation by The Inquirer found that Horsch often blurred lines between fiction and reality in his writing, including material about a largely autobiographical serial killer who murdered individuals with addictions.
Investigators have recovered an estimated 600,000 images, 70,000 videos, and over 10,000 pages of writings from digital devices found at the property. Police have also found five urns, illegal weapons, and fake law-enforcement credentials, though authorities have not publicly connected these specific items to the missing women. The search of the property has included excavating parts of the site, removing sewer lines, and collecting containers with unidentified substances for testing. The website where Tonzelli was allegedly featured has since been taken offline.