The Killer Landlady: 7 Shocking Facts About Dorothea Puente’s Death House And 2025’s New Obsession
Puente's crimes shocked the nation, not just for their brutality but for the calculated way she preyed on society's most vulnerable. Her Victorian home at 1426 F Street became the epicenter of a gruesome investigation, revealing a disturbing pattern of deception and murder hidden in plain sight.
Dorothea Puente: A Complete Biographical Profile
Dorothea Helen Gray led a life marked by instability, deception, and escalating criminal behavior long before she became a serial killer. Her numerous aliases and marriages created a confusing trail that helped her evade authorities for years.
- Full Name: Dorothea Helen Gray (later Dorothea Montalvo Puente).
- Born: January 9, 1929, in Redlands, California.
- Died: March 27, 2011 (age 82), at the Central California Women's Facility in Chowchilla.
- Aliases: Dorothea Montalvo, Dora Gray, Dottie, and the infamous "Killer Landlady" or "Death House Landlady."
- Early Life: Her father, a cotton picker, died of tuberculosis when she was four, and her mother died in a motorcycle accident two years later. She was sent to an orphanage and later endured an abusive childhood, leading to a lifelong pattern of con artistry and fraud.
- Marriages: She married multiple times, including her first at 16 to a soldier named Fred McFaul. Her longest marriage was to Roberto Puente, whose surname she kept.
- Criminal History: Prior to the murders, Puente had convictions for forgery, grand theft, and running a brothel. She served time for drugging and robbing elderly people in 1982, before returning to her boarding house and escalating to murder.
- Conviction: Charged with nine murders, she was convicted in 1993 of three counts of first-degree murder (Álvaro Montoya, Dorothy Miller, and Benjamin Fink) and was sentenced to two life sentences without the possibility of parole.
7 Shocking Facts About the "Death House Landlady" Case
The case of Dorothea Puente is filled with unsettling details that continue to horrify and fascinate. The sheer audacity of her crimes, combined with the mild-mannered public persona she cultivated, makes her one of California's most infamous criminals.
1. The Victims Were Buried Within Feet of Her Kitchen
Puente's victims were not disposed of far away. She buried at least seven bodies in the backyard of her two-story Victorian home at 1426 F Street in Sacramento, California. The remains were discovered after a police search was initiated following the disappearance of Álvaro "Bert" Montoya, a mentally disabled tenant. The bodies were often dismembered or wrapped in sheets and blankets, then covered with concrete and dirt, sometimes just a few feet from the back porch.
2. She Used a Facade of Compassion to Lure Her Targets
Puente specifically targeted vulnerable individuals—the elderly, those with mental disabilities, and alcoholics—who had few family ties and relied on government assistance. She presented herself as a compassionate caregiver, a pillar of the community who was helping the less fortunate. This facade allowed her to operate her deadly scheme for years, as no one immediately missed the tenants who "moved away".
3. The Motive Was Pure Financial Gain
The core of Puente's operation was financial fraud. She would drug her tenants, often with Flurazepam (a powerful sedative), kill them, and then continue to cash their monthly Social Security and disability checks. It is estimated she collected tens of thousands of dollars from her victims over several years, using the money to fund her lifestyle, including her love for shopping and expensive clothes.
4. The Discovery Began with a Missing Person’s Case
The investigation that ultimately brought Puente down began not with a body, but with a missing person report. A social worker, Judy Moise, grew concerned about the disappearance of her client, Álvaro "Bert" Montoya. When police began digging in the backyard in November 1988, they initially found nothing, but after two days, the first set of human remains was unearthed, leading to a full-scale forensic excavation.
5. She Escaped During the Initial Investigation
While police were actively excavating her backyard, Puente was allowed to leave the premises, claiming she needed to get a cup of coffee. She immediately fled to Los Angeles, but her freedom was short-lived. She was recognized by a civilian in a bar who had seen her on the news and was quickly arrested, ending her brief flight from justice.
6. The House at 1426 F Street is Now an Unsettling Tourist Attraction
The infamous Victorian house, often called the "Death House," is still a private residence today. Current owners, Barbara Holmes and Tom Williams, have embraced its dark history, renovating it and even occasionally opening it for tours or using it as a unique setting, such as a classroom for law enforcement training. It remains one of Sacramento's most iconic and macabre private residences, a pilgrimage site for true crime fans.
7. Her Story is Inspiring New Media in 2025
Puente's chilling narrative continues to resonate, inspiring new works decades later. In 2025, a new horror movie titled 'Dorothea', based on her story, is set to premiere around Halloween. Furthermore, a play, "Dorothea Puente Tells All!", is scheduled for a run at the Big Idea Theatre in Sacramento, demonstrating the enduring, morbid curiosity surrounding the "Killer Landlady".
The Confirmed Victims of Dorothea Puente
While Puente was charged with nine murders, she was ultimately convicted of three. The following individuals are among the confirmed victims found buried on her property or linked to her scheme:
- Ruth Munroe (61): Puente's first known victim. She died in 1982, and Puente initially claimed she committed suicide.
- Everson Gillmouth (77): Puente’s boyfriend. His body was found in a box in the river, the first body linked to her.
- Álvaro "Bert" Montoya (51): A mentally disabled man whose disappearance ultimately led police to begin digging in the backyard.
- Dorothy Miller (64): A tenant at the boarding house.
- Benjamin Fink (55): A tenant at the boarding house.
- Betty Palmer (78): A tenant at the boarding house.
- Leona Carpenter (78): A tenant at the boarding house.
- James Gallop (62): A tenant at the boarding house.
- Vera Faye Martin (64): A tenant at the boarding house.
The discovery of seven bodies in the small backyard cemented the house's gruesome reputation and secured Puente's place in the dark history of American serial killers. She died in prison in 2011, taking any final secrets about the full extent of her crimes with her.
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