Philadelphia police and FBI agents have uncovered 55-gallon drums, hidden compartments, chemicals, weapons, drugs, and a chilling handwritten note referencing serial killer Ted Bundy in a rundown row house, intensifying suspicions that Amy McHale, missing since 2016, met with foul play at the hands of her late husband's criminal son.
The Disappearance of Amy McHale
Amy McHale walked into a Philadelphia row house in 2016 and vanished. Her mother, Gloria McHale, told investigators she last heard from her daughter via a voicemail on June 13, 2016. “Something happened to her in that house,” Gloria said.
McHale’s daughter, Amanda Stofer, said her mother struggled with drug addiction and mental health issues, making her vulnerable. “My mom wouldn’t just go missing,” Stofer said. “Amy did have her issues, but I don’t think she was isolated in these situations. I think these were bad men who took advantage of women who needed help.”
The Horsch Family Connection
McHale met Raymond Charles “R.C.” Horsch in the 1990s when she was in her 20s and he was in his 50s. They married, divorced, but remained close. R.C. Horsch, described by Gloria as “kind of a strange dude,” was a wannabe porn impresario who made BDSM videos featuring women in “sadomasochistic settings.” He died in 2025 with a rap sheet including drug manufacturing and forgery.
The investigation gained new momentum with the arrest of R.C.’s 44-year-old son, Eugene Horsch, a convicted felon.
Eugene Horsch's Arrest
A U.S. Park Ranger overheard an argument between Eugene Horsch and his girlfriend in a parked car near Philadelphia’s Independence Hall. The ranger intervened after hearing the woman plead, “You’re going to hurt me.” Eugene was arrested carrying a fake Drug Enforcement Administration badge, a switchblade, and two guns with obliterated serial numbers. His girlfriend carried a fake ID bearing the name of a Philadelphia woman who vanished in February 2023.
Police have not publicly identified that woman. Eugene’s girlfriend told detectives she feared something bad had happened.
The Chilling Note and Evidence
Inside the row house, investigators found a handwritten letter with Ted Bundy references. “Acting on emotion is where problems occur. What I don’t think I told you was that the first time it was planned ahead of time,” the note stated, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer. “The threat was made before you know who came over, and I already had a 2ft zip tie in my pocket and a drum set up. I had been ready and waiting, and I damn sure showed no hesitation. And it was fun.”
No human remains were found, but several urns were discovered, one bearing a Horsch family member’s name. One detective said, “We just don’t know what he was doing. He’s producing something. If he’s making something, if he’s irrigating something, we don’t know.”
Impact and Ongoing Investigation
The case has reignited hope for answers in McHale’s disappearance. Stofer emphasized, “She was more than just an addict. She was a mother, she was human, she’s missed and she was preyed upon like so many women are when they are in those positions with drug addiction.” Police continue to investigate whether Eugene Horsch is linked to other missing women.
