Pension death: the story of one of the most brutal serial killers of California

The woman, whom we describe, committed several of the most heinous murders in Northern California, but few know and remember her name. If you live in this part of the state, most likely you have heard of it. But for the rest of America, she remains a stranger, despite all her terrible deeds.

California is well acquainted with serial killers: in this state there were cruel criminals, the most famous of which are the Zodiac, Night Stalker and the Killer from the Golden State (this is offhand). And if you like criminal stories, most likely, you can easily find out a lot of information about crimes like those committed by these people, writes Only in Your State.

Three decades have passed since her crimes shocked Sacramento. If you lived here around the 80s, you've obviously heard of it. Dorothea Puente was her name. In appearance, this woman looked respectable and quiet, but in fact she was one of the most bloodthirsty killers in California.

Puente was found guilty of the deaths of at least nine people, most of whom were disabled or elderly living in her boarding house on 2100 F Street. The woman added poison to food and drinks, which she served to her victims in order to appropriate their pensions and benefits. In a month she managed to steal at least 5 thousand dollars from her charges.

It's a little surprising how long it took authorities to notice Puente, even though the woman had been in jail for a variety of crimes throughout her life. She was first arrested in 1960 for running a brothel - then Puente was sent to Sacramento County Prison for three months. She was later arrested and served time for vagrancy, check forgery, financial fraud, all at various times.

Prison Sacramento. Photo: Jimmy Emerson / Flickr

From the outside, she might have seemed like an innocent old lady - God's dandelion, but in reality this was not the case. This woman has demonstrated a lack of compassion her entire life. She got married and divorced several times and even gave up two daughters for adoption (she sent another one to live with relatives).

In the 70s, Puente rented a two-story Victorian-style boarding house. The reputation given to her by her landlords varied from house to house - some saw her as a generous woman, others considered her a cold and cruel person.

House of the “boarding house of death”. Photo: Wayne Hsieh/Flickr

The timeline of her murders fluctuates somewhat, but it is believed that the crimes began shortly after she rented a house and set up a boarding house there. In 1982, Puente's friend and business partner, Ruth Monroe, died suddenly in this building. Police ruled her death a suicide due to an overdose, but authorities now believe Ruth may have been her "friend's" first victim.

Another of the first victims was the husband of Puente Everson Gillmouth. His body was found in the ground, about a year after his wife killed him. By this time, the body had decomposed so much that it could not be identified. All this year, Puente received his retirement checks. In 1988, a worried social worker turned to the authorities. One of the pensioner's clients disappeared, and his last address was the house on F Street. It was then that the crimes of Puente were finally discovered.

Police found nothing in the house, but a human leg and foot were found buried in the ground in the yard. Continuing to dig up the yard, police found six more bodies. Immediately after this, Puente was not under suspicion. She was allowed to leave the house to buy a cup of coffee - of course, she ran away and left the city. A few days later, Puente was found at a motel in Los Angeles. An elderly woman she met at a bar identified her from television advertisements and called authorities.

The trial began in October 1992 of the year, before the court of Puente appeared without evidence. Through 24 days of intense litigation, a jury convicted her for three murders. Puente was sentenced to life in prison without the right to parole.

In 2011, Puente died in prison from natural causes. It is impossible to imagine how this woman committed crimes all her life and was caught only after the deaths of several innocent and defenseless people. Puente’s murders are especially scary because her victims were the people she was supposed to take care of.

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