Dorothea Puente was born on September 9, 1929, in California. She grew up in a tumultuous household, with an abusive mother and absent father. As a result, Puente had a troubled childhood and often struggled to make ends meet.
Puente's criminal history began in 1960 when she was arrested for running a brothel. This arrest was just the beginning of her downward spiral into a life of crime and deception.
Despite her initial arrest for running a brothel, Puente's most notorious crimes came later in life when she started running a boarding house. Puente targeted vulnerable tenants, including the elderly, mentally disabled, and drug addicts. She would lure them into her boarding house before robbing and murdering them.
Puente's modus operandi was to befriend her tenants, gaining their trust before ultimately betraying them. She would open their mail, withhold their money, and cash their Social Security checks for her own gain. This manipulation allowed Puente to maintain control over her victims while exploiting their vulnerabilities.
It is believed that Puente murdered at least nine people during her time at the boarding house. Some of her victims were buried in the garden of the property, while others were dismembered and disposed of in various locations.
Throughout her life, Puente was married four times. Her relationships were often turbulent, with her spouses becoming victims of her deceit and manipulation. Puente's ability to charm and manipulate others was a key aspect of her criminal activities.
Dorothea Puente's crimes shocked the nation and left a lasting impact on those who knew her victims. Her case remains a chilling reminder of the darkness that can lurk behind a seemingly innocent facade.
Like Aileen Wuornos, another notorious female serial killer, Puente's crimes were driven by a deep-seated need for control and power. Both women used manipulation and deceit to prey on vulnerable individuals, leaving a trail of destruction in their wake.
Overall, Dorothea Puente's life story is a cautionary tale of the dangers of unchecked power and manipulation. Her crimes serve as a grim reminder of the evil that can exist within seemingly ordinary individuals.