Episode 171: PART 2- Dorothea Puente

In November 1988, a social worker showed up on Dorothea Puente’s doorstep, in Sacramento, CA just one mile from the Capitol and the Hall of Justice. The social worker, Judy Moise, was looking for one of Puente’s tenants, 51 year old Bert Montoya. He had stopped showing up to his social work meetings and this was his last known address. 

Dorothea left Judy Moise on high alert. Something about this situation and her demeanor did not feel right. Judy would end up contacting police, who arrived soon after with shovels. 

This would lead to days of digging in the back garden and a nearly 30 year secret finally coming to light. Beneath the flowers and apricot trees in this Sacramento garden, and behind the lace curtains in Dorothea’s windows, something sinister was happening. This is part 2 of the story of the Death House Land Lady, and female serial killer Dorothea Puente.

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SOURCES:

“World’s Most Evil Killers” season 2, episode 18
https://csi.pressbooks.pub/darkmindsdeadlydeeds/chapter/dorothea-puente-high-functioning-psychopathy/
https://www.sacbee.com/news/local/article312136221.html
https://www.amazon.com/Cooking-Serial-Killer-Recipes-Dorothea/dp/1411615441
https://www.capradio.org/articles/2025/10/23/dorothea-puente-tells-all-is-an-intriguing-look-at-one-of-sacramentos-most-famous-notorious-crimes/
https://www.crimemuseum.org/crime-library/serial-killers/dorothea-puente/
https://www.sactownmag.com/the-life-and-deaths-of-dorothea-puente/
Wikipedia
https://the-housewife-did-it.square.site/uploads/b/d52b06e0-07cf-11ee-bc8a-65afc59ccab9/de73b0c0-29b4-11ee-b6c2-1be709ec9e19.pdf
“Corpse Collector” by Genova Ortiz
“The Bone Garden” by William P. Wood
“Buried Beneath the Boarding House” by Ryan Green