Maribel Fresses and Gabrielle Amarando appeared to be deceased in photographs collected from Eugene Horsch’s house
Credit: NamUs; Facebook; CBS Philadelphia/YouTube
NEED TO KNOW
- Police searching Eugene Horsch’s house are investigating 600,000 images and 70,000 videos that are “graphic”
- The investigation began in June after Horsch was found arguing with a woman who was carrying another missing woman’s identification on her
- Authorities discovered five urns, a home lab and containers with unknown “oily” substances at Horsch’s Philadelphia home
An extensive search of the Philadelphia residence of 44-year-old Eugene Horsch has allegedly uncovered a trove of information, including recordings where two missing Philadelphia women appear to be deceased, the Philadelphia Police Department said in a press release this week.
Police allegedly uncovered about 600,000 images, 70,000 videos and 10,000 pages of writings, manuscripts and drawings in their weeks-long investigation, police confirm to PEOPLE.
The women, whose bodies have not been located, were identified by police as Maribel Fresses, who was last seen in February 2018, and Gabrielle Amarando, missing since September 2012, police said in their Thursday, Aug. 13 statement.
Credit: Philadelphia Police Department
The investigation began on June 19 when Horsch drew a U.S. park ranger’s attention during an argument in a car with a woman, Philadelphia police said at the time. The woman inside was heard saying “you’re going to hurt me,” prompting police to search the vehicle, where they found fake DEA credentials, a switchblade in his pocket and two firearms with missing serial numbers.
The woman with Horsch was carrying identification with the name Blair Tonzelli, who had not been heard from since February 2023, police said.
The discovery led police to Horsch’s residence where they allegedly found five urns carrying what is believed to be remains, a “home lab” in the basement and various containers filled with “unknown, oily substance,” police said at a press briefing held on Thursday, Aug. 13.
More than a month on, the recovery has turned much more grim. The medical examiner has stated if the recovered images are unaltered and authentic, then based off what they show, the woman are believed deceased.
Inspector Ray Evers, who spoke at the briefing, said the images recovered by police were “graphic and dark.”
Credit: NamUs
The residence is also where Horsch’s father, filmmaker and erotic photographer Raymond “R.C.” Horsch, died in 2025. His wife Amy McHale was reported missing in 2016 after she was last seen at that house, her daughter previously told Philadelphia Inquirer, WPVI and CBS News.
“She left me a voicemail, and she said she was at Ray’s, and that’s where Ray lives,” Amanda Stofer told WPVI. “[R.C. Horsch] even spoke with me and my grandmother and the detectives afterward and gave the same story that she was there and that when he woke up in the morning, she wasn’t.”
As for Tonzelli, the woman whose identity card was found on Horsch’s companion on June 19, Evers said on Thursday that police believe “we may never see [Tonzelli] again.”
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Much remains unknown as police continue their investigation. Evers said on Thursday that investigators have only gone through about five to seven percent of the digital information they have, which includes only one out of the five hard drives recovered.
The FBI is assisting with the investigation, Evers said. Anyone who has been inside 417 West Chew Avenue or has information about activity at the property are urged to contact investigators. Anyone who believes a missing loved one may have a connection to the residence is also urged to contact police.
Tips can be left on the PPD tip line at 215-686-TIPS (8477), and Homicide Unit investigator can be contacted at 215-686-3334.
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