Dwight William Rhone, 74, already charged in the 2023 killing of Bernardo Moreno, was arraigned June 10 on three additional murder counts tied to cases from 1993, 2002, and human remains found in Southcrest in December 2025.
A San Diego man already facing a murder charge for a killing in 2023 now stands accused of three more deaths stretching back decades, prosecutors announced as Rhone appeared in court on fresh counts.
Dwight William Rhone. 74. was charged on June 10 with three additional counts of murder and a special circumstance for committing multiple murders. according to the San Diego County District Attorney’s Office. Prosecutors said Rhone had previously been charged in the killing of Bernardo Moreno, 54, whose body was discovered in October 2023.
Rhone was arraigned on the new charges on June 10 and pleaded not guilty, prosecutors said. He remains in custody without bail, and is scheduled to return to court on March 24, 2027.
The case adds two cold cases—dating to 1993 and 2002—and a third matter tied to remains found in December 2025 at a Southcrest property where Rhone previously lived, prosecutors said. Southcrest is a community in southeastern San Diego.
Prosecutors described the earliest alleged killing as the death of Heriberto Ruiz, who was found dead in December 1993 in an alley in the city. The medical examiner determined Ruiz died by strangulation.
In another case, prosecutors said Ronald Johnken’s body was discovered in September 2002 in the Chollas Creek area. The medical examiner ruled he died from blunt-force trauma to the head.
The third alleged incident centers on Michael Brown. Prosecutors said Brown’s remains were found in December 2025 beneath a former residence of Rhone. Investigators executed a search warrant at the property after authorities received information suggesting human remains might be there.
Even with the new charges, prosecutors said Rhone’s prosecution continues on the Moreno case. Moreno was found dead in burned debris near an interstate, and prosecutors said Moreno died from a gunshot wound to the base of the skull.
The Southcrest property became a focus of a multi-agency investigation late last year. Prosecutors said investigators with the California Highway Patrol had developed information leading investigators to suspect human remains were on the property. though they did not immediately provide additional information.
On Dec. 2, 2025, several law enforcement agencies—including the San Diego Police Department, the California Highway Patrol, and the FBI—executed a search warrant at the home and located human remains, prosecutors said.
Rhone, identified as a former tenant of the property, was named a person of interest at the time and was already in custody on the Moreno homicide charge, prosecutors said. Prosecutors also said the broader investigation remains ongoing as they review additional missing persons cases.
Authorities have asked the public for help with two other cases connected to their review. Prosecutors cited Danice Galloway. whose body was found in May 1989 in the north alley located at 3700 Main Street. and Antenogenes Gomez Velasquez. who was last seen in 2021 and was last known to have resided at a property at 3456 Newton Avenue. prosecutors said.
San Diego Dwight William Rhone Bernardo Moreno murder charges Southcrest cold cases California Highway Patrol FBI arraigned June 10 no bail March 24 2027 Heriberto Ruiz Ronald Johnken Michael Brown Danice Galloway Antenogenes Gomez Velasquez