SAN DIEGO -- After a gruesome discovery in a North Park neighborhood, neighbors are sharing the shocking news.

Investigators found what they believe to be the remains of Edward Andrews, 80, in the 3400 block of Alabama Street.

Andrews was last seen leaving his Hemet home on May 31, 2008 and was never heard from again.

The story begins with Thomas Jeffrey Brooks, 39, behind bars.

That's where investigators believe he befriended Andrews and the two became “pen pals.”

Once Brooks was released from prison, he allegedly duped Andrews out of more than $100,000 before suffocating him and dumping his body at a North Park home.

Riverside County Sheriff’s deputies say images captured at automatic teller machines show Brooks using Andrews' bank card.

Investigators allege he withdrew more than $130,000.

Brooks was arrested in La Jolla last month in connection with Andrews' disappearance, even though no body had been found.

Friday, three roommates, who had landscaping done by Brooks in June, decided to take a sledge hammer to an unwanted block of cement. They said they never expected to find a decaying body inside.

“They figured that their landscaper, who was the suspect, had made it for them. They didn't like it. They began to destroy it. As they began to tear away the concrete and the wire, they noticed, in the center, it was wrapped in plastic and they came upon the body,” said Riverside County Sheriff’s Sgt. Dennis Gutierrez.

Deputies believe the remains are that of Andrews and say he had been stuffed inside plastic, then coated with cement.

Amy Ahlfeld lives just down the street from where the body was found.

She and her kids came home Friday night to a row of flashing lights from police cars.

“The kids were more concerned. They're like, `Mom, don't get out of the car!’ So, I said, `I'm sure it's fine or they'd be telling us don't come home,’” Ahlfeld recalled.

Ahlfeld learned the details of the body only today.

“I was kind of relieved to know what had happened. I mean, relieved that no one here was involved, but it's kind of odd,” Ahlfeld said.

Odd and chilling, says a neighbor, who just moved in down the street less than 2 weeks ago.

It's kind of freaky because somebody just dropped it off in somebody's yard and somebody just found it and decided to break it up and find a body in there,” said Kevin Ellermeier.

Detectives delivered the morbid news to the victim's daughter over the weekend.

Brooks faces charges of first degree murder with the special circumstances of "murder for financial gain," which means prosecutors could pursue the death penalty or life in prison, without parole.

His next court date is set for September 24, 2008. DNA tests will be conducted to confirm the identity of the remains.