Greedy Granny Turned Serial Killer – Ep. 9

Pillar of the community. Philanthropist. Medical doctor. Dorthea Puente was given – or gave herself – many different titles over the years, but in California in the 1980s, the one title that proved true was “serial killer.” On this episode of the Escape Pod, co-costs Charity and Julie are joined by friend-of-the-show Karabeth to discuss this “greedy granny” whose love of money may have driven her to kill some of the very people she was entrusted to help. 

 

Bullet Points of Key Topics and Markers: 

• Topic #1    6:19 Sacremento, CA, in the 1980s: A man with a mental health condition and other challenges goes missing after moving into Dorthea Puente’s home 
• Topic #2  14:31 Discussion of Dorthea’s troubling and traumatic past 
• Topic #3  32:22 A secret note is slipped to investigators that helps crack the case 
• Topic #4  47:24 A Lighter Note: Escapism, co-host-style

 

Resources & Links 

 

https://sports.yahoo.com/killing-her-boarders-burying-them-194503281.html 

https://www.crimemuseum.org/crime-library/serial-killers/dorothea-puente/ 

https://www.investigationdiscovery.com/crimefeed/crime-history/death-house-landlady--a-look-back-at-unexpected-serial-killer-do  

https://www.sfgate.com/local/article/california-serial-killer-dorothea-puente-17318261.php 

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-6616525/Grandson-Dorothea-Puente-laced-cakes-poison-says-shared-real-connection-her.html  

 

 

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