TL;DR
- Dwight Rhone charged with three more murders.
- Two victims linked to decades-old cold cases.
- Investigators examining other possible connections.
- Rhone previously charged in a 2023 murder.
- Victims include Michael Brown and Ronald Johnken.
In a shocking twist of fate, a 74-year-old San Diego man, Dwight Rhone, has been charged with three additional murders, including two cold cases that have haunted investigators for decades. This news comes on the heels of his previous murder charge in 2023, where he was accused of killing Bernardo Moreno, whose body was discovered near a highway interchange, tragically marked by a gunshot wound to the head and found amidst burned debris.
The San Diego County District Attorney’s Office announced the new charges, crediting the relentless efforts of a deputy prosecutor whose “persistence and attention to detail” unearthed critical connections between Rhone and multiple victims. The victims in question include Michael Brown, whose remains were unearthed in December under a home where Rhone once resided in the Southcrest neighborhood. The specifics surrounding Brown’s death remain murky, with no immediate details available on the cause or date.
But that’s not all. The grim tale continues with Ronald Johnken, who was tragically found in a nearby creek back in 2002, his death attributed to blunt force trauma to the head. And let’s not forget Herierto Ruiz, discovered in an alley in 1993, who met a horrific end by strangulation. It’s a chilling reminder of the unsolved mysteries that linger in the shadows of San Diego.
As investigators dig deeper, they are also looking into other potential victims linked to Rhone. Among them is Danice Galloway, whose body was found in an alley less than a mile from where Ruiz was discovered. Additionally, Antenogenes Gomez Velasquez, who vanished in 2021, was last known to live on Newton Avenue, the same street where Rhone once called home and where Brown’s remains were found.
As the layers of this case unfold, the community is left grappling with the implications of these charges. Rhone has pleaded not guilty to the new allegations, and his attorney’s office has yet to respond to requests for comments. This case serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing fight for justice for victims and their families, especially in a world where cold cases can linger for far too long.
Stay tuned as we continue to follow this developing story and shed light on the dark corners of crime that affect our communities.