They Are Digging for What Was Buried, and for What Was Taken

There is an excavation that is not merely about earth and equipment but about the slow, careful work of answering questions that have haunted families for years. On West Chew Avenue in Philadelphia's Olney neighborhood, that work has been underway for days, as FBI agents and Philadelphia police detectives dug through the backyard of a home tied to seven missing women, five of whom are presumed dead.

Investigators used heavy equipment to excavate large portions of the property at 417 W. Chew Ave., including the area where a shed once stood. NBC10's DroneForce10 captured the scene from above, showing an excavator tearing through the backyard and large holes surrounding the home . The property once belonged to Raymond "R.C." Horsch, who died in 2025 at age 82. Police have said they have video and photo evidence suggesting Horsch might have been involved in the deaths of five women .

The discoveries have been accumulating. Investigators found a safe hidden behind a wall inside the home, though it is not yet clear what was inside . They also recovered bones from the backyard on Thursday, and the Philadelphia Medical Examiner's Office was called to determine whether they are human or animal . Earlier, sources said luminol sprayed on walls and floors revealed locations of DNA, though it remains unknown whose DNA it is .

The investigation began after Horsch's son, Eugene Horsch, was arrested in June on separate charges of impersonating a federal agent. A woman with him at the time had an identification card belonging to another woman who had been missing for years, leading police to the Chew Avenue property . The home has been under 24-hour surveillance since late June .

One of the women connected to the investigation is Nicole Fusaro, who disappeared in 2018 at the age of 27. Her cousin, Jonathan Halloran-Koren, told NBC10, "It just ends up sending a chill down my spine every time I hear a new thing. It's a constant horror and not knowing" . He said he questions whether investigators will find human remains buried on the property. "I don't think he would have buried the bodies," he said .

The digging is expected to continue into next week, with crews also planning to search a small yard in front of the property . Three months into the investigation, authorities have not found human remains, and the whereabouts of the missing women remain unknown . For the families, each new development raises more questions than answers. For the investigators, the work continues.

AI Image Disclaimer: This article's image is AI-generated and does not depict the actual excavation or individuals involved.

Sources: NBC10 Philadelphia, Fox News, CBS News Philadelphia, FOX 29 Philadelphia, 6abc Philadelphia