Killer Minds: Serial Killers & True Crime Murders

Episode: SERIAL KILLER: The Death House Landlady Pt. 2

Release Date: January 8, 2026

Hosts: Vanessa Richardson & Dr. Tristin Engels

Episode Overview

This episode concludes a deep dive into the crimes of Dorothea Puente, infamously known as "The Death House Landlady." Once celebrated as a compassionate caregiver, Puente’s story is a chilling tale of deception, manipulation, and serial murder. The hosts unravel how she exploited trust and the flaws in social systems, blended into her community, and eluded justice—until her monstrous actions finally came to light. Clinical and forensic psychologist Dr. Tristin Engels offers expert analysis of her psychological profile, discussing themes of manipulation, empathy deficits, and how Puente’s gender and circumstances shaped her methods.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Puente’s Early Escalation and Near Misses

• Killing Ruth Monroe / Drugging Malcolm McKenzie ([05:07]):
  Vanessa recounts Puente’s early crimes, including the murder of Ruth Monroe and the drugging/theft against Malcolm McKenzie. Despite complaints, limited evidence prevented a murder charge—allowing Puente to avoid serious justice and emboldening her crimes.
• Police Narrowly Miss Real Guilt ([06:43]):
  Dr. Engels calls her five-year sentence for theft and fraud “very lenient,” noting:

  “She actually murdered someone, and they couldn't prove it... so she essentially got away with it. And that sends a powerful message regarding her effectiveness.”

• Prison as Training Ground ([07:35]):
  Dr. Engels proposes prison didn’t reform Puente but honed her skills:

  "Prison gave her structure. It gave her an audience and access to medical manuals. It gave her time to rehearse new identities... For Dorothea, prison served as dedicated practice time for her, which is markedly different and truly scary."

Relationship with Everson Gilmuth: Manipulation & Murder

• Utilizing Prison Pen Pal Program ([09:29]):
  Vanessa: Released from jail, Puente connects with widower Everson Gilmuth, using his love and resources to reopen her illegal boarding house.
• Exploiting Emotional Needs ([11:02]):
  Dr. Engels:

  "Dorothea's manipulation of Everson is a textbook example of how a seasoned offender exploits loneliness, vulnerability and unmet emotional needs.”

• Disposal & Cover-up ([13:20]):
  Puente kills Gilmuth, impersonates him through forged letters, and enlists handyman Ismail Flores to dispose of the body—paid with cash and Gilmuth’s truck.

Perfecting the Modus Operandi

• Hiding In Plain Sight ([17:27]):
  Puente consistently presents as a caring, elderly lady, fooling neighbors and social workers. Vanessa explains this cultivated image increased her payday:

  "Her income was about $5,000 a month. That's about $14,500 today. But she wanted even more."

• Weaponizing Social Biases ([19:31]):
  Dr. Engels discusses the danger when systems praise such figures:

  "They saw her usefulness only and filtered out the rest. And that's exactly why her tactics worked. Dorothea weaponized that contradiction—the image of the benevolent caregiver paired with the reality of predatory behavior."

• Methodical Isolation and Murder ([21:53]):
  Vanessa details how Puente isolated victims, drugged them, and covered disappearances through lies—burying bodies under flower pots and trees.

Psychological Mechanisms & Societal Blind Spots

• Relational Manipulation ([23:16], [23:53]):
  Dr. Engels breaks down the psychological blind spots that let Puente thrive:

  “There's something called the representative heuristic... We judge someone based on how well they match our internal template of a ‘good person.’”
  He adds, confirmation bias and the halo effect played big roles in shielding Puente from suspicion.

• Dorothea's View of Life & Empathy ([20:46]):
  Dr. Engels:

  “Dorothea learned early that people were either sources of threat or sources of utility... she wasn't seeing human beings. She was scanning for needs she could exploit, vulnerabilities she could capitalize on, and opportunities to maintain absolute control.”

Victim Escalation & Downfall

• Murder of Betty Palmer and ‘Chief’ ([25:08]):
  Betty’s resistance and subsequent murder highlight Puente’s ruthlessness with perceived threats. An ex-con hired to assist in dismemberment (referred to as ‘Chief’) disappears next—likely murdered to prevent loose ends.
• Paranoia and Control ([27:52], [28:04]):
  Dr. Engels attributes Puente’s escalating violence to “functional paranoia” and a worldview where she is the sole authority, justifying her actions on her own terms.

The Last Victim and Unraveling the Case

• Alvaro “Bert” Montoya & Social Worker Persistence ([29:59]):
  The story of Bert—a vulnerable tenant whose disappearance summons the suspicion and tenacity of social workers Judy Moyce and Peggy Nickerson—becomes the catalyst for Puente's exposure. After Bert is poisoned and buried (under a newly planted peach tree he helped dig), inconsistencies in Puente’s stories raise red flags.
• Critical Courage: Tenant’s Note ([35:55]):
  After police interview the remaining tenants, one slips Detective Cabrera a note:

  “She is making us lie for her.”

• Discovery of the Graves & Flight ([39:23]):
  As police dig up bodies, Puente flees to Los Angeles, only to be eventually recognized and apprehended.

The Psychology of Denial and Confession

• Refusal to Admit to Murder ([42:57]):
  Dr. Engels:

  “Dorothea is a master at rewriting her story and herself... it's not surprising that she's unable to own up to the worst of her actions.”

• Partial Admission as Strategy ([44:12]):

  “Partial admission is a classic strategy among individuals with antisocial traits... By confessing to a lesser offense like theft, Dorothea signals just enough compliance to seem reasonable while still distancing herself from the more damning accusations.”

Conviction and Legacy

• Trial and Aftermath ([45:00]):
  After a lengthy trial, Puente is ultimately convicted of three murders (Ben Fink, Dorothy Miller, Leona Carpenter) and sentenced to life without parole. She never confesses to murder, dies in prison in 2011.
• Implications:
  Puente’s life and crimes are a tragic testament to how unchecked biases, inadequate oversight, and manipulative personalities can intersect—with devastating results.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Disguised Psychopathy
  Dr. Engels ([07:35]):

  “Dorothea's crimes were quiet, calculated, and relational. She weaponized trust, caregiving roles, and social expectations... her crimes blended into roles people don't question often.”

• On Systemic Failures
  Dr. Engels ([19:31]):

  “That praise gets dangerous when the person providing help is also violating the law. Once someone is willing to cross legal and ethical boundaries for a good cause, you have to ask, where does that boundary stop?”

• On Manipulation
  Dr. Engels ([11:02]):

  “She wasn't interested in him as a partner, only as a resource. And the moment she stepped out of prison, she went straight into control mode.”

• On Blind Trust
  Dr. Engels ([23:53]):

  “Once we decide someone is kind or trustworthy, we unconsciously filter out information that contradicts it... The halo effect... All those biases together create a psychological blind spot big enough for someone like her to operate in plain sight, undetected for as long as she did.”

• On Ultimate Downfall
  Vanessa ([35:55]):

  “He read the note. When he did, it read, quote, 'she is making us lie for her.' Now, Cabrera knew something was wrong.”

Timestamps for Important Segments

• [05:07] – Dorothea’s theft, fraud, and murder of Ruth Monroe
• [07:35] – Gendered nature of Puente’s crimes, and how prison refined her killer persona
• [09:29] – Relationship and eventual murder of Everson Gilmuth
• [17:27] – The evolution of Puente’s methods, targeting and isolating tenants
• [21:53] – Detailed process: ID theft, prescription forgery, disposal of bodies
• [23:53] – Analysis of psychological biases that protected Puente
• [25:08] – Escalation: Murder and disposal of Betty Palmer and likely ‘Chief’
• [29:59] – Introduction of Alvaro “Bert” Montoya and the critical role of social workers
• [35:55] – The pivotal note from a tenant to police
• [39:23] – Discovery of multiple graves, Puente’s flight and eventual capture
• [45:00] – Conviction, sentence, and Puente’s final fate

Conclusion & Takeaways

The case of Dorothea Puente highlights not only the terrifying adaptability and cunning of a particular type of serial killer, but also reveals vulnerabilities in social systems designed to protect the most at risk. Puente’s methods—subtle, relational, and draped in the garb of maternal care—exploited both institutional gaps and deep-rooted societal biases. She was ultimately undone not by traditional investigation, but by a combination of persistent social workers, a brave tenant, and the unraveling of a web of lies too tangled to sustain.

The episode reminds listeners to be vigilant against blind trust, to challenge assumptions about who poses danger, and to remember that evil often cloaks itself in the most comforting disguises.