A Southcrest property that turned into a digging site last December is now at the center of what prosecutors say is a decades-long trail of violence. Today, San Diego prosecutors filed three new murder charges against 74‑year‑old Dwight William Rhone, expanding an investigation that began after human remains were recovered at a Southcrest house late last year. The new filings, which carry a special‑circumstances allegation that could mean life without parole or the death penalty, have reopened cold files and kicked off fresh calls for witnesses and tips.
According to the San Diego County District Attorney's Office, the newly filed counts connect Rhone to killings in 1993, 2002 and 2023, as well as to a death tied to remains recovered at a Newton Avenue property last December. Prosecutors say those remains have been identified as Michael Brown. The DA is also seeking information about Danice Galloway, who was found in an alley at 3700 Main Street on May 1, 1989, and about Antenogenes Gomez Velasquez, who was last seen in 2021. The new charges and the special‑circumstances allegation were announced today, according to NBC 7 San Diego.
Background on the 2023 case
Rhone was first arrested in October 2023 after authorities say he shot 54‑year‑old Bernardo Moreno on Interstate 5 near State Route 905 and then set Moreno’s body on fire, a case that remains pending. Since that arrest, the 74‑year‑old has been held in custody on the earlier murder charge while investigators continued to chase new leads. ABC 10News reported on the initial arrest and on the days of digging and evidence processing at the Newton Avenue property last December.
How investigators zeroed in on Newton Avenue
California Highway Patrol detectives developed information that led to a search warrant at 3443 Newton Avenue in Southcrest. There, CHP investigators joined the FBI, San Diego Police cold‑case detectives and the District Attorney’s Office in a multi‑agency search in early December. A City of San Diego news release and a DA statement say investigators located human remains and worked with the county medical examiner to determine identity and cause of death.
Cold cases tied to the filings
Prosecutors say the new counts link Rhone to the December 1993 strangulation of Herierto Ruiz near the 3500 block of Acacia Street and to the September 2002 death of Ronald Johnken, who was found near 3300 National Avenue with blunt‑force trauma. Investigators are also seeking tips in the 1989 death of Galloway and about Velasquez, who was last seen in 2021 and was formerly tied to a Newton Avenue address. Authorities say the list of potential victims may grow as detectives continue to process records and lab results.
What comes next
Rhone pleaded not guilty to the newly filed counts on Wednesday and remains in custody without bail. He is not scheduled to return to court until March of next year. The District Attorney's Office says Rhone is being investigated in connection with additional deceased or missing people and that more information will be released as the probe continues, according to NBC 7 San Diego.
Neighbors and family response
Neighbors who watched the excavation in December told reporters they were shaken and said they had not noticed anything suspicious at the property before investigators arrived. Local reporting and earlier Hoodline coverage described residents' unease and quoted tenants who recalled investigators digging in multiple spots in the yard.
The DA's office urged anyone with information to contact the San Diego Police Homicide Unit at 619‑531‑2293 or Crime Stoppers at 888‑580‑8477, noting that tips can be made anonymously. Officials said even small pieces of information can help detectives connect decades‑old leads to current evidence, and the District Attorney emphasized that victims deserve answers as the office continues to pursue every viable lead.
