Investigators Find Human Remains at Southcrest Property Tied to Prior Homicide Suspect

By San Diego Monitor News Staff

SAN DIEGO — In a startling development that has shaken the Southcrest neighborhood, authorities discovered human remains buried beneath a residential home this week, triggering a full-scale investigation by local and federal law enforcement.

The discovery occurred at a home on the 3400 block of Newton Avenue after officers from the California Highway Patrol, the FBI, and the San Diego Police Department executed a search warrant based on a tip. Investigators, some dressed in hazmat suits and accompanied by forensic canines, uncovered what they determined to be human remains buried beneath the property.

The current tenants, who reportedly moved in last year and are not believed to be connected to the case, were asked to vacate the home during the investigation and were provided temporary housing assistance.

The home was previously occupied by 74-year-old Dwight Rhone, who is currently in custody for an unrelated 2023 murder case in which prosecutors allege he killed a man named Bernardo Moreno and set his body and vehicle on fire before attempting to assume the victim’s identity.

Rhone faces charges including first-degree murder, attempted robbery, and identity theft. Authorities have identified him as a person of interest in the newly discovered remains, though no charges have been filed in connection with this latest development.

The San Diego County Medical Examiner’s Office is now working to identify the remains and determine a cause and timeframe of death. Officials have released no additional details, citing the active investigation. Law enforcement is urging anyone with information about previous occupants or suspicious activity at the property to come forward.

Neighbors in the Southcrest community expressed shock at the discovery, noting the home had appeared quiet since the newer tenants moved in. One resident said the news left people unnerved, adding that no one expected something so disturbing to be hidden beneath a house on their street.

Authorities say the investigation will take time as forensic teams analyze evidence and detectives work to determine how the remains came to be buried at the property. The discovery has renewed questions about unresolved cases in the area and whether additional leads may emerge as the investigation unfolds.