Timeline: How Philadelphia's "house of horrors" investigation unfolded

The investigation into the so-called "house of horrors" in Philadelphia's Olney neighborhood has captured widespread attention as many wait for the conclusion of a case involving several missing women, a suspected serial killer and the home at 417 Chew Ave. CBS News Philadelphia was the first to report on this case in June 2026, when a search of the three-story home uncovered documents linked to missing people. Eugene Horsch and an unidentified woman were arrested days prior to the search, and authorities said Horsch possessed a pair of guns and a fake DEA badge. The woman was also in possession of another missing woman's ID. The woman allegedly told investigators that "bad things happened" to people in the basement of Horsch's home. That set off the massive investigation where detectives have linked seven missing women to the home — five of whom are feared to be dead. Since the investigation began, the home's late owner and Eugene's father, Raymond Charles Horsch, has become the focus of investigators, who suspect he was a serial killer. "R.C." Horsch is believed to have killed several missing women last seen at the property. "R.C." Horsch, a writer who detailed killings in his work and a pornographer, is accused of preying on vulnerable women in the city. Some have even described him as "Satan." Here is a timeline of how this investigation has unfolded so far: Latest "house of horrors" updates Nov. 4: In an unsealed 2012 court document, an attorney for Raymond "R.C." Horsch wrote that Horsch had exposed himself to a "great degree of danger" while cooperating with the federal government as an informant. Amy McHale, one of the missing women linked to the Olney home, testified during a sentencing hearing for her estranged husband, Raymond Horsch. Horsch was being held at the Federal Detention Center in Chinatown since 2009 on drug trafficking charges. Midway through the 2012 hearing, Horsch was given an opportunity to address the court. "Thank you, Your Honor," he said, according to the transcript. "Just as succinctly as possible, it's been pointed out that I've done some very bad things in my life. I'd just like to point out that I've also done some good things. And if I have any time left, I'd like to spend that trying to do some good things to offset the bad things that I've done." Horsch's attorney also submitted a letter attributed to former Philadelphia Mayor John Street , which alleges Street believed Horsch was doing good work on the streets of Kensington. Street later called the letter "fake news" and said he had "absolutely no recollection of anything like this." Oct. 29: A judge unsealed court documents revealing that Raymond "R.C." Horsch cooperated with federal authorities on narcotics and crimes against children 14 years ago. In 2012, Horsch was awaiting sentencing on allegations that he had a large marijuana grow in the basement of his Chalfont home. The documents revealed that Horsch made a deal to exchange information on drug trafficking and crimes against children for a lighter sentence and the dismissal of some charges. Oct. 28: After police and the FBI concluded a three-week search of the Chew Avenue property, an anonymous woman spoke with CBS News Philadelphia about an alleged encounter with the Horsch family at the Olney home in 2013. The woman, who said she was inside the alleged "house of horrors," blacked out after doing drugs with Raymond and Eugene Horsch. When she regained consciousness, she said "R.C." Horsch was standing over her taking pictures. The woman said she had to lie to get out of the home. Days later, she claimed she saw both men again in Camden, where they allegedly threatened her life. Sometime later, she said she attempted to report Raymond and Eugene to police but said they seemingly didn't care. "He didn't seem too concerned about it," she said. "He didn't really write it down or anything." Forensic investigation at "house of horrors" wraps up Oct. 22: Investigators wrapped up work at the so-called "house of horrors" after weeks of searching for evidence of human remains. While other undisclosed items of potential value have been sent for testing, sources tell CBS News Philadelphia that investigators have taken what they need from the property Oct. 21: The bones discovered outside the Horsch home have been determined to be animal bones, law enforcement sources tell CBS News Philadelphia. Investigators were more than 50% finished with the excavation in the backyard, sources said. Once complete, they will move to the front yard. Oct.19: A former high school friend of Eugene Horsch offered a glimpse into his life and why some called his late father "Satan." She remembered specific details of Eugene's relationship with his late father and how he was embarrassed by his father's work in pornography. "He really didn't like to talk about his dad because his dad actually, like, he knew he was a porn star," she said. "I don't know how in-depth Eugene knew, but he was very embarrassed by it." Oct. 16: Eugene Horsch's attorney, Jerome Brown, called the investigation a "runaway train" in an exclusive interview with CBS News Philadelphia. Brown said the claim that Raymond "R.C." Horsch was a serial killer is not consistent with the man he knew. Some of the allegations are "shocking," he said. Eugene Horsch, who is in jail on weapons and drug charges, was not charged with anything in connection with the home. Human DNA found at "house of horrors" Oct. 15: Bones were found in the backyard of the "house of horrors" on Chew Avenue — later determined to be animal bones. Oct. 14: FBI agents and Philadelphia police dug up the backyard of the so-called "house of horrors" in search of human remains. Roughly a dozen agents from Quantico, Virginia, and Philadelphia homicide detectives were at the property removing each layer of soil in the backyard and treating it as if it were a mass grave. A Jane Doe also spoke with CBS News Philadelphia about creepy interactions she had with Raymond "R.C." Horsch, calling him "the devil in disguise." Oct. 13: Human DNA was found after crime scene investigators sprayed the chemical luminol throughout the home on Chew Avenue. Oct. 12: Philadelphia police and the FBI returned to the home Monday night to use luminol to search for signs of human blood. Investigators spent hours spraying sections of the house. Retired FBI Supervisory Special Agent Richard Marx explained to CBS News Philadelphia how the chemical is used: "When sprayed on trace amounts of what is believed to be blood, it gives off a very faint luminescence of blue light. It has to be relatively dark in the room to see this light because it's a very faint chemical reaction," Marx said. "House of horrors" investigation ramps up Oct. 8: After police and the FBI finished removing items from the Horsch residence, they brought Cache, the Philadelphia Police Department's electronic-sniffing dog, to sweep the property. The police K-9 is trained to detect hidden thumb drives and file-storage drives and cards, and can smell oils on those devices, even when they're hidden. Oct. 6: Investigators searched the basement on the second day during the latest phase of the investigation. Several pieces of furniture, containers and trash bags containing items from the Horsch home at 417 W. Chew Ave. were removed. Investigators began dismantling the laboratory equipment found in the basement. A source told CBS News Philadelphia that the basement was divided into several rooms and resembled an old high school science lab. Oct. 5: The investigation entered a new phase at the Olney "house of horrors," as investigators entered the home and removed items in search of possible human remains. Authorities began three days of forensic work, examining the home floor by floor and cross-referencing previously collected video. Sources say police are looking at everything in the home, including the flo