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What Happened To Dorothea Puentes Victim Alvaro Bert Montoya?

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Dorothea Puente, a seemingly ordinary grandmother, ran a boarding house in Sacramento, California, which turned out to be a front for her heinous crimes. She was convicted of killing nine people, often preying on those with disabilities or facing hardships.

Dorothea Puente’s Background:

Dorothea Puente’s troubled life began in Redlands, California, in 192Growing up in poverty, she faced challenges, including her father’s death when she was eight and her mother’s subsequent loss of custody. Puente lived with relatives and, at 16, moved to Olympia, Washington, where she worked as a sex worker. Her life included multiple marriages, psychiatric hospitalization, and claims of connections with politicians like Governor Jerry Brown and President Ronald Reagan, though evidence supporting these claims is scarce.

Puente’s First Victims:

Ruth Monroe, a boarder in Puente’s house in 1982, died just three weeks after moving in. Her death, initially ruled a suicide due to codeine and Tylenol overdose, set the stage for Puente’s escalating crimes. Another boarder accused Puente of drugging and stealing money, leading to Puente’s conviction and a five-year jail sentence.

Puente’s correspondence with 77-year-old Everson Gillmouth while in prison marked the beginning of a sinister partnership. Puente and Gillmouth opened a joint bank account, and Puente later gave away Gillmouth’s red truck. In 1986, a fisherman discovered a box built by Puente’s worker, containing Gillmouth’s body.

Who Was Alvaro “Bert” Montoya?

Alvaro “Bert” Montoya, born in Costa Rica in 1936, faced a challenging life marked by untreated mental disorders, including schizophrenia. Described as a “gentle bear of a man,” Montoya spent years living on the streets and in shelters due to his struggles.

At 51, Montoya was referred to Puente’s boarding house by a social worker, unknowingly becoming one of her victims. Puente’s boarding house, seemingly a refuge for the elderly, disabled, or those battling addiction, concealed the sinister reality of her actions.

Montoya’s Disappearance:

Montoya, labeled a “transient,” went missing without attracting immediate attention. However, social worker Judy Moises, who had placed Montoya in Puente’s care, grew suspicious when she hadn’t heard from him. Puente provided conflicting explanations for Montoya’s whereabouts, claiming he went to Mexico or Utah.

Moises filed a missing person report on November 7, 1988, leading to a police investigation. Puente and another tenant, John Sharp, initially supported each other’s stories, but Sharp eventually revealed the truth in a note to an officer.

Unraveling Puente’s Crimes:

A police search of Puente’s backyard revealed seven bodies, each containing the drug Dalmane, used to treat insomnia. Puente had drugged or strangled her victims, then cashed their social security checks.

Puente, after briefly fleeing to Los Angeles, was arrested and charged with nine murders. In 1993, she was convicted of three murders and received two life sentences. Puente maintained her innocence, claiming all alleged victims died of natural causes. She died in prison in 2011 at the age of 82, leaving behind a legacy as one of the country’s most “cold and calculating female killers.”

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Zora Stowers

Update: 2024-05-21