Quiet Neighborhood Shattered by Grisly Discovery
A peaceful corner of San Diego was forever changed this week when law enforcement uncovered human remains buried on a residential property, bringing to light what appears to be a long-buried secret. The discovery in the Southcrest neighborhood has sent shockwaves through the community as residents grapple with the disturbing reality that a potential murder scene had been hidden in plain sight among their homes. What began as an ordinary Tuesday quickly transformed into a scene from a crime drama as federal agents and local police descended on the 3400 block of Newton Avenue, armed with shovels and wearing hazmat suits, their presence announcing that something truly sinister had been uncovered in this otherwise unremarkable neighborhood.
The investigation that led to this chilling discovery began with a tip received by the California Highway Patrol, suggesting that a body was concealed on the property. Recognizing the gravity of the situation, the CHP collaborated with the FBI and San Diego Police Department to thoroughly examine the premises. Helicopter footage captured the meticulous work of investigators as they dug through the yard and examined a crawl space beneath the house, their careful movements eventually confirming the tip’s validity. The current residents, who had only moved into the home last year and are completely uninvolved in the investigation, were displaced from their home and provided with hotel accommodations while authorities conducted their grim search. This disruption to innocent lives underscores the far-reaching consequences when violence leaves its mark on a community.
At the center of this disturbing case is 74-year-old Dwight Rhone, named by the San Diego District Attorney as a person of interest. Public records reveal that Rhone resided at the Newton Avenue address in 2020, but his connection to the area is overshadowed by his lengthy criminal history. Since 1978, Rhone has accumulated dozens of arrests, creating a troubling portrait of a man whose life has been intertwined with the criminal justice system for nearly half a century. More recently, Rhone has been implicated in another horrific crime—the 2023 murder of Bernardo Moreno on Interstate 5 at State Route 905. In that case, authorities allege that after killing Moreno, Rhone set the victim’s body and vehicle ablaze, a shocking act of violence that hints at a pattern of behavior that may extend back many years.
The timing of this discovery is particularly notable as Rhone is currently being held at the San Diego Central Jail following his February 26 arrest by the San Diego Sheriff’s Office. The charges against him paint a picture of a man allegedly willing to commit extreme acts of violence: first-degree murder, attempted robbery, vehicle theft, and fraudulently using another person’s personal information. With a court appearance scheduled for December 10, Rhone now faces the possibility of additional charges depending on what investigators learn from the remains found at his former residence. The FBI’s Evidence Response Team has played a crucial role in this investigation, bringing specialized forensic expertise to the collection and processing of evidence, including the deployment of forensic canines trained to detect human remains. Their involvement highlights the sophisticated resources being dedicated to uncovering the truth behind this macabre finding.
As the San Diego Medical Examiner works to identify the remains and determine cause of death, many questions remain unanswered. Authorities have been cautious about releasing details, creating a shroud of mystery around the case. How long have the remains been buried beneath the house? Who was this individual whose final resting place became a backyard grave? What connection, if any, existed between the victim and Rhone? The community now waits anxiously for answers that may bring closure to what could be a years-old missing persons case. For families of long-missing individuals in the region, this discovery has undoubtedly stirred both hope for resolution and fear of devastating news, demonstrating how a single criminal act can create ripples of uncertainty and pain that extend far beyond the immediate crime scene.
The juxtaposition of ordinary suburban life continuing just beyond the yellow crime scene tape makes this discovery all the more unsettling. Neighbors who had gone about their daily routines—walking dogs, tending gardens, raising families—now must reconcile with the knowledge that violence and death lurked literally underfoot. This case serves as a stark reminder that the most disturbing crimes can occur in the most ordinary places, hidden behind the facade of normalcy. As the investigation continues to unfold, this quiet San Diego neighborhood confronts an altered sense of security and the uncomfortable reality that sometimes the darkest secrets lie buried not in distant, unfamiliar places, but right next door, beneath the surface of everyday life.
