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Johnny Soekhies, a 58-year-old man, was found dead in a drain located in a secluded cul-de-sac in West Mobile, Alabama, in 2019. He was shot in the head, leading police to immediately suspect a homicide. The case quickly gained attention as the nature of the crime was extremely brutal, and the location of the body was isolated.
A police investigation revealed that a man named Sabronte Lashun Rhodes had used the dating app ‘Grindr’ to invite Johnny Soekhies to meet. As part of a well-planned plan, Rhodes robbed and shot him dead. CCTV footage, ATM records, and digital evidence played a key role in gathering clues to the crime.
Investigation Discovery’s documentary series See No Evil will feature the case in an episode titled Cul-De-Sac. The series focuses on crimes that have been solved with the help of surveillance cameras. This episode will show how digital technology and surveillance footage helped police unravel the mystery of the murder and track down the accused.
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See No Evil: Cul-De-Sac is set to premiere on Investigation Discovery on June 10, 2025, at 9 pm ET.
The true story behind Johnny Soekhies' murder
According to the Advocate's report, published on June 28, 2023, Johnny Soekhies went missing in late October 2019 after meeting a stranger through Grindr. Soekhies' body was found in a drain in a semi-constructed colony in West Mobile, Alabama, on October 25, 2019, with a gunshot wound to the head. Initially thought to be a robbery, the case took a more serious turn as the investigation progressed.
As per the same source, the accused, Sabronte Lashun Rhodes, allegedly invited Soekhies to meet him via Grindr, claiming to be his boyfriend. According to police reports, Rhodes first forced Soekhies to withdraw money from an ATM and then shot him. Footage from nearby ATMs and cameras showed Rhodes and Soekhies together, and at some points, a struggle was also seen between them.
As per a report by NBC 15 News, dated June 28, 2023, the investigation also revealed that Rhodes had made similar plans in the past. In some cases, he tried to rob the victims, and in another incident, he was arrested outside an adult store. These cases helped the police understand his criminal tendencies.
Digital evidence, such as Grindr chat history, phone records, CCTV footage, and ATM transactions, helped the police to prepare a clear timeline. Based on this data, Johnny's last activities were linked, and the accused was identified and taken into custody.
The court trial of Johnny Soekhies' murder case
According to a Fox 10 News report dated May 17, 2023, a Mobile County jury found Sabronte Rhodes guilty of the murder of Johnny Soekhies. The evidence presented by the prosecution in court was based on digital chats, surveillance camera recordings, and bank transactions, which were enough to prove the role of the accused.
On May 16, 2023, Rhodes was sentenced to life imprisonment without parole. In addition, in the year 2023, he was given parallel sentences in other cases, including fraud and illegal possession of weapons.
To find out more about this case, viewers can watch See No Evil: Cul-De-Sac, which will air on Tuesday, June 10, 2025, at 9 pm ET, exclusively on Investigation Discovery.
