FBI, police to use luminol to search for blood in Olney 'house of horrors': news

FBI and Police Deploy Luminol in Olney ‘House of Horrors’ Investigation

Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) agents and Philadelphia police detectives have intensified their forensic search at the Olney residence known locally as the “house of horrors,” deploying luminol to detect potential traces of blood.

Forensic Search at 417 West Chew Avenue

Investigators returned to the property at 417 West Chew Avenue in Philadelphia’s Olney neighborhood to conduct nighttime testing using luminol. Luminol is a chemical solution that undergoes chemiluminescenceemitting a faint blue glow in low lightwhen it reacts with the iron found in hemoglobin, allowing forensic teams to uncover latent blood patterns even if surfaces have been scrubbed or aged over multiple years.

Scope of the Investigation

• Focus on Missing Persons: Law enforcement is examining whether the location holds physical evidence related to the disappearances of up to seven missing women linked to the property.

  CBS News

• Excavation Plans: Alongside interior forensic testing, authorities are utilizing heavy equipment to excavate portions of the backyard in search of potential human remains or concealed evidence.

  CBS News

• Case Background: The home was previously owned by Raymond “R.C.” Horsch, now deceased, while his son, Eugene Horsch, remains in custody on separate federal weapons and narcotics charges.

  CBS News

Local authorities emphasize that the search remains an active, ongoing effort to secure physical and forensic evidence in connection with multiple unresolved cases.