An elderly California man who is already in jail on suspicion of a 2023 killing has been charged with three additional murders.
Dwight William Rhone, 74, faces four murder charges overall for killings that took place in San Diego County in 1993, 2002, 2023 — as well as one that occurred on an unknown date — but is related to human remains found at a San Diego home in December, the San Diego District Attorney’s Office said.
The new charges include a special circumstances allegation of committing multiple murders, meaning if Rhone is convicted, he will face either life in prison without parole or the death penalty.
Rhone was initially arrested and charged with murder following the fatal shooting and immolation of 54-year-old Bernardo Moreno, who was found dead on Interstate 5 near Route 905 in October 2023, with authorities recovering his body from his burned-out car.
While that case was pending, Rhone was named a person of interest last December in an investigation into human remains found on a property he once rented.
The District Attorney’s Office said Wednesday that the person found dead in December was identified as Michael Brown. Officials have not shared any more information about Brown, including his age or cause of death.
The DA’s office also tied Rhone to the December 1993 strangulation of Heriberto Ruiz, who was found dead in an alley, as well as the September 2002 death of Ronald Johnken, who was found dead in Chollas Creek from blunt-force trauma to the head.
Rhone was arraigned on the three additional murder charges on Wednesday and pleaded not guilty. He is due in court on March 24, 2027.
He is also being investigated in connection with other deceased or missing people, the DA’s office said.
Prosecutors are also seeking information regarding Danice Galloway, who was found dead in an alley in 1989, as well as Antenogenes Gomez Velasquez, who was last seen in 2021.
“Our commitment to holding violent offenders accountable remains as strong today as it was on the day these crimes were committed,” District Attorney Summer Stephan said. “The District Attorney’s Office will never stop seeking the truth no matter how many years have passed. Victims deserve justice and their families deserve answers.”
