Local and federal law enforcement officers are expected to return Monday to a home on Chew Avenue in Philadelphia’s Olney neighborhood, where investigators are preparing to dig for clues as part of a months-long investigation involving the disappearance of at least seven women.
Five of those women are presumed dead, though no human remains have been found. The home was once owned by Raymond R.C.” Horsch, a known erotic photographer and snuff-film maker, but he died in 2025.
Philadelphia police and the FBI are expected to begin the next phase of this stage of the investigation this week. Law enforcement sources recently told NBC10 that heavy machinery will be brought onto the property so crews can dig.
Those same sources said investigators could also take down walls and remove floorboards as they search for evidence.
The work could last as long as two weeks and force some road closures, raising concerns among nearby residents and business owners about how the investigation could affect the neighborhood.
A woman who owns a grocery store steps away from the property is concerned the disruptions could force her to temporarily close. Her nephew translated for her because she does not speak English.
“She said a lot of people come in with cars. They drive. So, when they drive to come, they not gonna really be able to drive to come buy anything,” he said.
Despite those concerns, he said his aunt does not object to the investigation itself.
“She said she don’t have a problem with everything that they got going on, everything that they shutting down, blocks and doing whatever they doing,” he said.
The store owner is also concerned about potential damage to her business during the work.
“If anything of her stuff gets thrown out or messed up, she’s really gonna feel really sad about that because that’s gonna mess up her business,” her nephew said.
City Councilmember Anthony Phillips told residents during a community meeting last week that officials are working with businesses and neighbors to minimize the potential effects of the machinery and investigative crews.
The grocery store owner hopes city leaders will provide assistance if her business is affected.
“She said she would love for them to help and give a handout. Because all the stuff that’s gonna be messed up and thrown out, she would just need help to get a hand from them, like, keep her in mind or anything,” her nephew said.
This phase of the investigation could continue until the end of next week.
This story was originally reported for broadcast by NBC Philadelphia. AI tools helped convert the story to a digital article, and an NBC Philadelphia journalist edited the article for publication.
