What is dorothea puente?
Dorothea Puente (January 9, 1929 – March 27, 2011) was an American serial killer. She ran a boarding house in Sacramento, California, where she cashed the Social Security checks of her tenants and murdered them.
- Early Life: Puente's early life was marked by hardship. Both her parents died when she was young, and she spent time in orphanages.
- Criminal History: Prior to the boarding house murders, Puente had a history of petty theft and forgery.
- Boarding House Murders: Beginning in the 1980s, Puente ran a boarding house at 1426 F Street in Sacramento. She preyed on vulnerable individuals, including the elderly and disabled. Puente would cash their Social Security checks and then kill them, burying their bodies in the backyard.
- Discovery: In 1988, police began investigating after a social worker reported one of Puente's tenants missing. Eventually, bodies were unearthed in the backyard, leading to Puente becoming a suspect.
- Trial and Conviction: Puente fled California but was later apprehended. She was convicted of three counts of first-degree murder in 1993, although police suspected she was responsible for more deaths.
- Death: Dorothea Puente died in prison in 2011 at the age of 82.
- Significance: Dorothea Puente's case is notable for the vulnerability of her victims and the shocking nature of her crimes. The case highlights the importance of safeguarding vulnerable populations and the potential for abuse within caretaking environments.
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