Philadelphia police tell Olney residents they will use heavy equipment to search the Horsch property
Police told neighbors at the Olney Baptist Church there would be street closures near the home of the late Raymond "R.C." Horsch on West Chew Avenue through Oct. 16.
Residents, police, and elected officials gathered in an Olney house of worship Sunday afternoon to discuss how the investigation into the infamous “house of horrors” down the street would play out in the coming weeks.
“You’re going to see a lot of equipment,” Philadelphia Police Homicide Unit Staff Inspector Ernest Ransom said.
Ransom also told the crowd of about 100 inside the Olney Baptist Church that there could be a large police presence around the home of the late Raymond “R.C.” Horsch on West Chew Avenue on Monday and Tuesday. But he declined to say exactly what investigators would be doing there.
Horsch, who died last year at 82, ran a drug, sex, and porn operation out of the three-story, brick twin home. He left behind more than a million photos and videos in a vast digital archive, which investigators believe shows real and staged violence, and, possibly, murders.
Horsch is now linked to at least seven missing women.
“This is still a very active and ongoing investigation,” First Deputy Commissioner John Stanford told the crowd.
Starting on Oct. 5, police said they will be bringing in “heavy” equipment onto the 400 block of Chew Avenue.
Police declined to say more about the kind of equipment or what exactly they would be looking for. Even though the investigation would focus primarily on Horsch’s home, Ransom said there would be street closures — mostly during daytime hours — and parking restrictions through Oct. 16.
Residents would still be allowed in and out of their homes, Ransom said, but cars that weren’t moved during the restricted hours would be towed to a neighboring street.
“We will not be ticketing cars,” he said.
Ransom said fliers would be posted in the neighborhood before Oct. 5 with more details about the parking restrictions.
“It’s going to be a large project,” Ransom said.
When asked whether the operation would be concluded by Oct. 16, police said it could take longer.
“I do wanna say to you, just for the purpose of being able to manage expectations, think in your mind that this is probably gonna be the month of October,” Stanford said.
Residents didn’t probe for too many details about the investigation, mostly asking about logistics, crowds, social media influencers lingering around the area, and the future of Horsch’s dilapidated home.
“Hopefully, when you’re finished, you’ll tear it down,” resident Alice Hunter said.
One local business owner, who declined to identify himself to a reporter, expressed concern about the street closures affecting his business.
“I lost a ton,” the man said of investigation-related disruptions.
Residents were also apprehensive about the “lore” surrounding the case, both locally and beyond, telling police that “TikTokers” are coming to take photos and videos of the Horsch home.
“You have the social media folks, people on YouTube-ers, just coming and taking photos and what not,” resident Sarah Duncan said. “That can be a disruption and alarm some of the kids.”
During the meeting, a lone police cruiser sat outside Horsch’s home. Stanford said residents should expect to see a cruiser there indefinitely.
