Ep 3. Dorothea Puente

In season 2 episode 3 of World's Most Evil Killers, viewers delve into the chilling story of Dorothea Puente, the notorious Californian landlord who murdered at least nine of her tenants in the 1980s.

The episode begins with an introduction to Puente's early life, which was marked by several failed marriages and a series of offenses that saw her commit fraud, theft and even arson. After a stint in prison, Puente settled in Sacramento and began to rent rooms in her large Victorian home to elderly and vulnerable tenants, whom she would soon prey upon.

As the episode unfolds, viewers will learn how Puente would pick her victims, first luring them with promises of safety and stability before gradually isolating them from their friends and family. She would then subject them to mental and physical abuse, slowly wearing them down until they were too weak to resist her.

Although several of Puente's tenants would die from natural causes, the show's experts make it clear that her skillful manipulation was behind their deaths. Puente would often forge their signatures on checks and collect their social security payments to keep up the pretense of care and concern for her victims.

As the body count rose, Sacramento authorities began to investigate Puente's home following the disappearance of one of her tenants, Alvaro Montoya. The show's experts discuss the meticulous forensic work and dogged detective work that went into building a case against Puente, who initially tried to evade capture by fleeing to Los Angeles.

Ultimately, Puente was found guilty of nine counts of murder and sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. The show's experts weigh in on her motives and the psychology behind her heinous crimes, noting that Puente demonstrated a sociopathic disregard for human life and a desire for control and power over her victims.

Throughout the episode, viewers are treated to archival footage and interviews with friends, family and law enforcement officials who were involved in Puente's case, giving a full picture of the impact her actions had on the community. The episode also grapples with the broader ethical questions raised by Puente's crimes, considering how people can be motivated to commit such acts and what can be done to prevent them.

In the end, the episode's gripping narrative and expert analysis make it clear that Puente was one of the world's most evil killers, and that her legacy of cruelty and manipulation will forever be remembered as a cautionary tale.