Psych exam reveals “a potential serial killer” | Morning Newsletter
And a measles death controversy.
The Morning Newsletter
Start your day with the Philly news you need and the stories you want all in one easy-to-read newsletter
Good morning, Philly. There’s a heat advisory today, as temperatures are expected to head toward the triple digits.
Today, we start with exclusive documents obtained by The Inquirer in the case of Raymond “R.C.” Horsch: a 1985 psychological evaluation which raised red flags decades before he was linked to the disappearances of at least five women.
And, we’ll explain the recent controversy around measles-involved deaths in Pennsylvania.
Plus, a tentative plan to preserve aspects of the Academy of Natural Sciences, and more news of the day.
— Laura Benshoff (morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)
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In 1985, a four-hour exam concluded that Raymond Horsch was “grandiose, mistrustful, suspicious, and excessively controlling,” according to a psychological profile obtained by The Inquirer.
He was also “consumed by anger.”
The full report, which has not been previously reported, is a window into the mind and early childhood of the criminal pornographer at the center of an expanding investigation into a series of missing women.
At the time, Horsch faced sentencing on federal drug charges he’d tried to dodge by assuming a new identity in New Zealand. It would take decades before his home would become the center of a growing missing-persons investigation.
But the report indicated that Horsch could be capable of great violence. Reading it, “I would say you have a potential serial killer on your hands,” a retired FBI special agent told The Inquirer.
The Inquirer’s Max Marin, Ryan W. Briggs, and Ellie Rushing have the full story.
Last week, Pennsylvania officials reported two deaths associated with measles, amid a growing outbreak that has already sickened more than 500 people in the state so far this year.
The vagueness of that disclosure touched off a number of strong reactions:
Gov. Josh Shapiro and U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. clashed over the announcement. Kennedy accused Pennsylvania of “fabricating” the deaths and Shapiro said Kennedy is spreading misinformation.
Public health experts criticized the Shapiro administration, saying that by not releasing more information about those who died it created a void for conspiracy theorists to fill.
State officials later explained that they define a measles-associated death as one where evidence of measles is present, whether or not it’s listed as the immediate cause of death.
Inquirer health reporter Aubrey Whelan breaks down what else we know about the cases.
What you should know today
A day after its closure announcement shook the city, the Academy of Natural Sciences and Drexel University came to a tentative agreement about how the transition to a new space, and other changes, would be managed, multiple sources said.
A spokesperson for Gov. Josh Shapiro said he is open to signing legislation banning Flock cameras, the controversial license-plate reading technology.
After progressive candidate wins in other cities, Philly real estate developers are pouring money into a PAC aimed at protecting business-friendly Democratic incumbents.
Upper Darby elected officials will consider a sweeping ordinance to restrict how federal immigration officers operate within the township.
An illegal speakeasy and hookah lounge, where an off-duty police officer got into an argument before he was fatally shot outside, must close, a judge has ruled.
A Peco project to install new utility poles in West Philly has been paused after residents expressed outrage over plans to trim back the tree canopy.
Nneka Nwosu, a Philadelphia native currently serving as the vice president of marketing and local programming at WLS in Chicago, will take over running 6abc’s Action News newsroom, reports The Inquirer’s Rob Tornoe.
🧠 Trivia time
Move over, $140 cheesesteak from Barclay Prime. There’s a new luxury food gimmick in town. Mr. Edison, the two-story steakhouse on Broad Street, is slinging a crab-stuffed, caviar-covered “blackout” baked potato. How much does it set diners back?
A) $88
B) $200
C) $54
D) $125
Think you know? Check your answer.
What we’re ...
🍽️ Catching up on. If summer put you in a dining-out rut, food writer Mike Klein rounded up a dozen new restaurants to try.
🎧 Listening to. Travis Kelce gave some of his only public remarks about his wedding to Taylor Swift on the new episode of his podcast, New Heights, per the Inquirer’s Mia Messina. He also talked football.
📆 Tracking. Monday is a holiday, which means a mishmash of businesses will closed. Check out our handy guide before running errands.
🏈 Reading. “From his early playing days Division 3... to becoming Iowa State’s winningest head coach, Matt Campbell has built a career that has prepared him for his highest-profile opportunity yet,” writes Devin Jackson in this profile of Penn State’s new head football coach.
🧩 Unscramble the anagram
Hint: Concertgoers braved thunderstorms to see this artist perform hits like “24K Magic” at the Linc on Tuesday.
NUMB ROARS
Email us if you know the answer. We’ll select a reader at random to shout out here.
Cheers to Jimmy Butterfield, who correctly guessed Wednesday’s answer: Collingswood. Residents of this borough are weighing whether to allow alcohol sales within its borders.
This summer’s ongoing storm roulette hit Gloucester County, N.J., on Tuesday night. Here’s hoping the power is back in time to run the A/C today.
See you tomorrow. 👋
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