5 harrowing details about Johnny Soekhies’ murder
In October 2019, Johnny Soekhies, 58, a beloved resident of Mobile, Alabama, went missing after meeting a man he connected with on a dating app.
What seemed like a simple meeting turned out to be fatal when Johnny’s body was found in a ditch on Oyler Road. Authorities confirmed Soekhies had been shot in the head. No solid clues were immediately found at the crime scene, but investigators soon found a digital trail that revealed the horrifying truth.
The investigation revealed a disturbing pattern behind the murder. The accused, Sabrontae Rhodes, had used the dating app Grindr to target innocent men. After calling Johnny under false pretenses, Rhodes forced him to withdraw money from an ATM, then murdered him and dumped the body.
The case eventually resulted in Rhodes’ conviction and life imprisonment without parole in 2023.
The chilling case will soon be featured in an upcoming episode of See No Evil, titled Cul-De-Sac, that uncovers the truth behind crimes through surveillance footage.
The episode will highlight how digital and video evidence played a crucial role in solving the murder of Johnny Sokhies. It will feature never-before-seen footage and eyewitness interviews, offering a detailed reconstruction of the events of the crime, the investigation, and ultimately the arrest and conviction of the culprit.
See No Evil: Cul-De-Sac is set to make its debut on the Investigation Discovery Channel tonight, June 10, 2025, at 9 pm ET.
5 terrifying facts about the murder of Johnny Soekhies explored
1) Fraud via dating app
According to WKRG News 5 and local police, Johnny Soekhies was contacted by Sabrontae Rhodes on the Grindr app, a dating platform. Rhodes arranged a meeting under the pretense of showing romantic interest.
Authorities later confirmed that the meeting was only intended to be a robbery, not a genuine social interaction.
2) Money was withdrawn from ATM at gunpoint
According to court witnesses and the ATM surveillance footage reported by Fox10 News, Rhodes forced Johnny Soekhies to withdraw money by taking him to a bank ATM at 3 am. The footage shows Soekhies following the instructions, which suggests he was under heavy pressure.
3) Johnny Soekhies' body found in a deserted drain
The body was found later that day in a secluded spot at the end of a cul-de-sac off Oyler Road in West Mobile. Mobile police said Johnny Soekhies was shot in the head, and the body was dumped in a storm drain. The condition and location of the body indicate that an attempt was made to cover up the crime and prevent an investigation.
4) Surveillance footage played a key role
According to statements made during the trial by AL.com, video footage from several places helped in understanding the sequence of events. Footage from ATMs, streets, and nearby establishments confirmed Rhodes' presence with Johnny. Authorities tracked his movements using GPS tracking and mobile records.
5) The accused's previous similar crimes
According to a report by True Crime Daily, Rhodes had a record of abusing dating apps. Another man, Mason Cooley, testified that Rhodes had previously stalked his home under the pretense of a date. Rhodes was arrested in June 2019 for suspicious activity with another Grindr user. This consistent behavior established a pattern and strengthened the prosecution's case during the trial.
Viewers can watch See No Evil: Cul-De-Sac to get more details on this harrowing case, which will premiere tonight, June 10, 2025, on Investigation Discovery, at 9 pm ET.
