Four missing women have been linked to Eugene Horsch's house in Olney, Philadelphia in Pennsylvania. This has brought back memories of serial killer Gary Heidnik, who operated in the area decades back.
Philadelphia police believe two of these four missing women to be dead. On August 12, they announced that video evidence from a hard drive in the Chew Avenue home led them to believe that Maribel Fresses and Gabrielle Amarando were no longer alive. The former was last seen in 2018 and the latter went missing in 2012.
The Olney home first came under scrutiny when cops searched the property after arresting 44-year-old Eugene Horsch. Notably, Horsch was arrested and indicted for possessing loaded guns, including a semi-automatic pistol, despite being convicted of a crime in Pennsylvania, and knowingly possessed fraudulent DEA and FBI identification documents.
Deep Dive
What evidence was found in Eugene Horsch's house related to the missing women?
Why are people speculating that Eugene Horsch could be a serial killer?
How did authorities connect Eugene Horsch to the disappearances of the women?
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The subsequent investigation unearthed disturbing details about Horsch's Olney home and sparked buzz online about him being a serial killer.
Eugene Horsch a serial killer? Online claims surface
{{/usCountry}}The subsequent investigation unearthed disturbing details about Horsch's Olney home and sparked buzz online about him being a serial killer.
Eugene Horsch a serial killer? Online claims surface
{{/usCountry}}Several claims were made online about Eugene Horsch being a serial killer. “America's newest unearthed serial killer: 44-year-old Eugene Horsch,” one wrote.
A true crime page added “Philly Serial Killer. I was just starting a deep dive on this disturbing case…OMG it’s so freaking hellish already and I’ve barely started…You may remember Eugene Horsch was picked up in Centre City (downtown Philadelphia) for being on drugs, having guns and a DEA badge. What they’ve uncovered since involves him, his dad, the wives and goodness knows how many more victims. They’re vile sickos for real - even rumored to include cannibalism. Investigators still have thousands of hours of videos and writings to go through…”.
Yet another post said “#Olney #Philadelphia house where they announced two victims today, and sadly it’s going to be many more. Here’s his biography. It’s awful to read. The father and son were a serial killer duo. They have not released that info yet. #EugeneHorsch #RCHorsch.”
Notably, Horsch has not been charged with killing any of the missing women. Hence, at this time it would be wrong to categorize him as a serial killer. Apart from Fresses and Amarando, two other women linked to Horsch's house are missing.
They are Blair Tonzelli and Amy McHale. At the time of Horsch's arrest, the woman with him provided an identification card belonging to Tonzelli, who disappeared in 2023. McHale, meanwhile, was married to Horsch's father Ray "R.C." Horsch, who died in 2025. The woman had gone missing in 2016.
Eugene Horsch's father produced snuff movies and wrote erotic books which had sadomasochistic themes as per NBC Philadelphia.
Gary Heidnik case comes up amid disturbing discoveries
The Horsch case has been disturbing enough to remind many of Gary Heidnik's crimes. He was convicted of kidnapping, torturing and killing women inside his North Philadelphia rowhouse. Heidnik was arrested in 1987.
He had broken through the basement floor and built a hole that was three to four feet deep, and four by four in size. Heidnik kept the women there, as per reports. He had tortured and raped six women, killing two before his crimes were found out. Heidnik was put to death in 1999.
Meanwhile, authorities continue to uncover disturbing evidence in the Horsch case, including a writing about serial killer Ted Bundy. It referenced zip ties, a drum, killings, and talk about ‘trash that needs to go’, a source told the publication.