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true crimeJul 10, 202648:51pending

HBO Developing True Crime Series About Sacramento Serial Killer Dorothea Puente

About this episode

The episode details the notorious criminal history of Dorothea Puente, a Sacramento landlady who murdered her elderly and disabled tenants during the 1980s. It explores her deceptive public persona as a grandmotherly figure, which allowed her to poison victims and steal their Social Security benefits undetected for years. The narrative traces her troubled upbringing and lifelong history of fraud, leading up to the gruesome discovery of bodies buried in her yard. Beyond her trial and eventual death in prison, the source highlights an upcoming HBO drama series starring Geena Davis that aims to dramatize these events. This television project seeks to examine the psychological complexity of a killer who exploited societal trust and the vulnerability of the marginalized. Ultimately, the episode reflects on Puente’s enduring cultural impact and the chilling reality of how easily malice can hide behind a facade of kindness.



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HBO Developing True Crime Series About Sacramento Serial Killer Dorothea Puente

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