Philadelphia police have returned to the Olney home of the deceased Raymond “R.C.” Horsch and his son for a second search, focusing on more than one million digital images recovered from the property. The renewed effort follows comments from forensic psychologist Katherine Ramsland, a DeSales University professor, who believes Horsch’s self‑published book, Empathy: The Autobiography of a Caring, Compassionate, Empathetic Serial Killer, could provide investigators with useful circumstantial evidence.

Book examined for investigative leads

The novel’s cover shows a younger‑looking Horsch covered in blood. Inside, the narrative follows a character who claims to kill women out of “mercy” and “kindness.” Ramsland described the manuscript as “a lot of pornography; it’s repetitive, there’s no structure,” and noted that it depicts Horsch bringing troubled women to his Chew Avenue home to photograph and create violent pornography.

While the book is framed as a fictional confession, Ramsland said it only details a single killing. In Chapter 45, the text describes the death of a woman identified only as Krista, portraying the act as a “kindness” that would make her death “ecstatic” during a sexual encounter.

Physical evidence emerging

Deputy Commissioner Frank Vanore said investigators have recovered a video that appears to show Horsch strangling a woman with a channel‑lock tool and zip ties. Another video allegedly shows Horsch attempting to strangle a woman with her own necklace before it broke; the woman survived.

Police also recovered 21 containers of an oily sludge from the home, which are being analyzed for DNA. If DNA matches descriptions in the book, it could provide physical evidence to support the written accounts.

Focus shifts to missing women and possible son involvement

Seven missing or unidentified women have been linked to the Olney residence. While investigators have found no indication that Horsch’s son, Eugene Horsch, participated in the alleged crimes, he remains jailed on federal gun charges.

Ramsland cautioned that the book alone would not secure a conviction, but noted that written material has helped solve cases when paired with physical evidence. The investigation continues as forensic testing proceeds.

Original reporting: Allentown News – 6abc Philadelphia — read the source article.