Episode Summary: Death House Landlady // 492
Podcast Information:
- Title: Going West: True Crime
- Hosts: Daphne Woolsoncroft and Heath Merryman (referred to as Daphne and Teeth in the transcript)
- Episode: Death House Landlady // 492
- Release Date: April 8, 2025
Introduction to the Case
In episode 492 of Going West: True Crime, hosts Daphne Woolsoncroft and Heath Merryman delve into the chilling story of Dorothea Puente, an unassuming landlady whose Sacramento boarding house became infamous for the mysterious disappearances and murders of vulnerable individuals under her care.
Notable Quote:
- Daphne [00:49]: “Very unassuming person behind all of this. And just a lot of horrors. Like this is truly... a true house of horrors.”
Early Life and Background
Dorothea Puente, born Dorothea Gray on January 9, 1929, in Redlands, California, endured a tumultuous childhood. As the sixth of seven children, she faced severe neglect and abuse from her alcoholic mother and the early death of her father. These hardships led her to a life marked by instability, including foster care and early entry into sex work at the age of 16.
Notable Quotes:
- Teeth [06:58]: “Oh yeah, we're gonna talk about how she was just a massive liar.”
- Daphne [07:11]: “But she was known to embellish a lot about her life.”
Dorothea’s early marriages and subsequent divorces further illustrate her pattern of manipulation and deceit. Her fraudulent claims of being a Rockette and connections with famous politicians like Jackie and John F. Kennedy bespoke her relentless pursuit of an illusion of grandeur.
Operation of the Boarding House
After multiple marriages and failures, Dorothea settled in Sacramento, opening a boarding house to sustain herself. Posing as a benevolent caregiver, she attracted elderly, disabled, and otherwise vulnerable individuals. Despite her façade of providing low-cost medical care and community support, Dorothea illegally siphoned Social Security benefits from her tenants, often resorting to drugging and murdering them to continue her financial exploitation.
Notable Quotes:
- Teeth [09:42]: “You just got caught. You can't board people anymore.”
- Daphne [10:48]: “In 1976, Dorothea married for the fourth and final time... she portrayed herself as a veteran nurse who served in World War II.”
Her reputation as “La Doctora” earned her trust within Sacramento’s Mexican American community, allowing her to manipulate social workers and evade suspicion for years.
The Discovery and Investigation
The investigation began when Alvaro Jose Rafael Gonzalez Montoya (“Burt”), a vulnerable tenant with severe mental disabilities, expressed a desire to leave Dorothea’s care. Suspicious of her intentions, social worker Judy Moise reported Burt missing. Police investigations uncovered alarming evidence, including human remains and large mounds of dirt in her backyard.
Notable Quotes:
- Teeth [14:01]: “Charges, Sacramento man Malcolm McKenzie... he had temporarily paralyzed him.”
- Daphne [17:07]: “But Dorothea hung onto his surname for the rest of her life.”
Detectives found pieces of fabric, a femur bone, and multiple bodies buried in her yard. Despite initial police oversight, Dorothea continued her murderous operations until her eventual unraveling following a failed escape attempt.
Arrest and Trial
Dorothea’s arrest in 1988 followed a media frenzy and extensive police searches after a tip-off from a retired carpenter who recognized her modus operandi. Multiple victims were identified, linking them to her boarding house. Although she was tried in 1992, Dorothea was convicted on three murder counts due to a deadlocked jury and sentenced to life in prison without parole.
Notable Quotes:
- Teeth [28:36]: “She manipulated you, too, my guy.”
- Daphne [58:34]: “She did what she did, as... she was cornered.”
Her trial revealed the extent of her crimes, though not all victims were convicted due to inconsistent jury opinions. Dorothea maintained her innocence regarding the murders, only admitting to financial theft.
Aftermath and Legacy
Dorothea Puente remained imprisoned until her death in 2011 at the age of 82. Her historic Victorian house on F Street, now a site of dark infamy, stands as a haunting reminder of her atrocities. The neighborhood’s attempts to repurpose the property have been thwarted by its historic status, ensuring that the legacy of the Death House Landlady endures.
Notable Quotes:
- Daphne [59:25]: “Daphne: Which is just so devastating that she was eventually considered one."
- Teeth [60:14]: “How you were able to manipulate people... you’re a liar.”
The case left a lasting impact on Sacramento, highlighting the vulnerabilities of caretakers and the importance of vigilant oversight to prevent such horrors.
Conclusion
Episode 492 of Going West: True Crime provides a comprehensive and unsettling exploration of Dorothea Puente’s life and crimes. Through detailed storytelling and insightful analysis, Daphne and Teeth shed light on how a seemingly benign individual could perpetrate such widespread evil, offering listeners both a gripping narrative and a cautionary tale.
Notable Quote:
- Daphne [60:13]: “I didn't do any of this, except I did try to take their money, and I did take their money, but I did not kill them.”
For more detailed accounts and visual materials related to Dorothea Puente’s case, listeners are encouraged to visit Going West: True Crime’s social media platforms, including Instagram and Facebook.
End of Summary