The Landlady Who Buried Nine in Her Garden

The Landlady Who Buried Nine in Her Garden

A three-story boarding house on F Street in Sacramento, California, became the site of a horrifying discovery when neighbors reported a putrid smell. Nine people were found buried beneath the flower beds, all known to the woman who tended the garden. How did so many come to rest in a single garden?

In this episode, we delve into the life of Dorotea Puente, the seemingly warm and maternal landlady who ran a boarding house for vulnerable tenants. We explore her past, her criminal record, and the chilling pattern of disappearances that preceded the discovery of the bodies. What dark secrets did Dorotea Puente hide behind her kind facade?

Person: Dorotea Helen Grey Puente
Location: F Street, Sacramento, California
Number of victims: Nine
First body found: January 1, 1986
First body identified: Iverson Wilmot

- Dorotea Puente was born on January 9, 1929, the youngest of eighteen children.
- She had four marriages and three children she did not raise.
- Prior to 1988, Dorotea faced 34 counts of fraud, primarily for forging tenant benefit checks.
- Neighbors reported a strong, foul odor from her property starting in spring 1988.
- The first identified victim, Iverson Wilmot, was found in a crate in Sutter County waters.

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