WEST HARTFORD, Conn. -- The investigation into a former doctor at St. Francis Hospital accused of exploiting children is continuing in West Hartford.

On Wednesday, police revealed that tens of thousands of slides and films depicting child pornography were confiscated from the deceased doctor's former home.

The couple that owns the home said they discovered a secret room in the basement of what was once Dr. George Reardon's home while performing renovations.

Police said the slides were discovered in May, but that the department recently decided to go public with the discovery with the hope that more victims will come forward.

West Hartford Police Chief James Strillacci told Eyewitness News on Thursday that in the 24 hours since the story was made public, the department has received numerous calls from people claiming to be related to the case, including some who say they were victims.

Strillacci said that it took about seven months to make the investigation public because of the "mass amount of evidence." He estimated that there are about 50,000 slides and about 100 films.

Strillacci said that now the department has a handle on all of the evidence, it wants to get the word out in hopes of developing more leads in the case.

Police are also concerned that the pictures may have been circulated, leaving open the possibility that more people were involved, some who, unlike Reardon, may still be alive and could be held accountable. Reardon died in 1998.

Reardon was formerly an endocrinologist specializing in childhood sexual development at St. Francis Hospital. In 1995, he agreed to give up his license to practice after numerous complaints that he abused and photographed children.