Saturday, September 21, 2013

Off Topic: Dorothea Puente House

OK so this has nothing to do with Manson, but it's creepy so maybe you will like it.
There was this "sweet" little old lady named Dorothea Puente: ever heard of her? She got caught poisoning her boarding house tenants, burying them in her yard and then collecting their social security checks. All in all, seven bodies were found in what turns out to be a VERY small side yard surrounded on three sides by neighbors. Another two suspected victims were never found. Dorothea recently died at Chowchilla on 3/27/11, which is also where Susan Atkins passed on 9/24/09.

Anywhoo, a couple in Sacramento bought the beautiful old Victorian a few years back and completely remodeled it. It is their primary residence and is occasionally open for tours. Patty was lucky enough to be admitted to "the Puente House" on 9/15/2013. Obviously, the new owners have a sense of humor.
Some may find this entire spectacle repugnant or offensive, but we have to remember that what happened here is history. If we forget our history, or sweep it under the rug, we are bound to repeat our mistakes. A docent reminded Patty that we KNOW what happened in this house: think of all the things that happened in other houses that we will never know about? Nobody had to sell Patty on the idea mind you, the docent was preaching to the choir.

Here are Patty's photos for your viewing enjoyment:












The tour made national news. You can see the AP write up of the sacbee article , here on cbs.com.





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19 comments:

  1. orwhutSeptember 21, 2013 at 4:59 AM

    If the little old lady wanted to be a criminal, it seems like she could have found a less risky type of crime that paid better.

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  2. AustinAnn74September 21, 2013 at 11:37 AM

    I read about this story, and let me tell you: there is no way in hell I'd live in that house. Ghost city!!!

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  3. Patty is DeadSeptember 21, 2013 at 12:07 PM

    :D

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  4. MattSeptember 21, 2013 at 12:51 PM

    There is a certain admiration I have for a person who kills then buries in the yard all who oppose her.

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  5. Patty is DeadSeptember 21, 2013 at 1:01 PM

    The neighbors would complain about the smell and shed say it was the fish emulsion she was using in the flowerbeds.

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  6. Sun KingSeptember 21, 2013 at 1:11 PM

    Wow, what a story.

    Did they serve cookies or offer any drinks on the tour? ;-)

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  7. MattSeptember 21, 2013 at 1:49 PM

    Actually YOUR visit to the Puente House may have alot to do with Manson case and your interest in it.

    Robert Hendrickson


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  8. FarflungSeptember 21, 2013 at 2:18 PM

    Keep in mind the judge who presided over Dorothea’s trial is the brother of Squeaky’s defense attorney, for her assassination attempt trial. Is it a coincidence that the neighborhood containing Puente’s home is named ‘Mansion Flats’, which is an anagram for: If Manson’s salt? Of course it is.

    But is it a coincidence that the path from Squeaky’s apartment to Dorothea’s house, combined with the path from the site where Fromme pulled a gun on President Ford to the city cemetery, where Red and Blue had their photo taken pointing at some gravestones, forms a swastika? I have no idea, because I haven’t checked to see if that’s even true, but it sure would blow my mind if it was.

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  9. Patty is DeadSeptember 21, 2013 at 8:06 PM

    Robert, you are likely right. Also Patty lives in a part of the state with more than its fair share of serial killers. Either our citizens are more depraved than most, or our detectives are better than most. Patty is not sure which, but she tends to keep the screen doors locked at all times...

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  10. beaudersSeptember 22, 2013 at 1:07 AM

    In prison Puente was very good friends with a serial killer named Carol Bundy. Look her up she makes Susan Atkins look sane. Bundy's crime partner was Douglas Clark if Bundy does not come up on her own. As an aside Carol Bundy had two sons and one day while watching tv Ted Bundy came up on the news. The boys asked if he was any relation to them and Carol said no. little did they know then what the future would hold for them.

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  11. beaudersSeptember 22, 2013 at 1:11 AM

    P.S. Is Puenete dead in that picture? Prison must have been very hard on her.

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  12. orwhutSeptember 22, 2013 at 1:53 PM

    That picture is creeping me out.

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  13. orwhutSeptember 22, 2013 at 3:38 PM

    Patty,
    Is the antique car in front of the house part of the exhibit. Orwhut?

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  14. stoner van houtenSeptember 22, 2013 at 4:14 PM

    great pics...love it

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  15. Patty is DeadSeptember 22, 2013 at 4:52 PM

    Hey whut. It was a Sacramento historical society deal so yes a lot of the members came out with their antique autos. there were five other houses on the tour including The Governor's Mansion.

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  16. orwhutSeptember 22, 2013 at 7:55 PM

    Thanks for explaining, Panamint Patty. For a while, I thought it might be an antique hearse.

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  17. AnonymousSeptember 24, 2013 at 10:39 AM

    "Keep out from under the grass" LOL

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  18. Shak ElSeptember 27, 2013 at 8:02 PM

    Evil Spirits 1991 R, 95 min.
    Genre: Horror / Thriller
    Director: Gary Graver
    Cast: Karen Black, Michael Berryman, Arte Johnson, Virginia Mayo, Martine Beswick, Bert Remsen, Debra Lamb, Robert Quarry, Yvette Vickers, Joan Caulfield, Anthony Eisley, Hoke Howell

    Boarding-house owner Ella Purdy (Karen Black) listens to the advice of her dead husband and kills off her tenants but keeps their monthly Social Security checks for herself.

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  19. Patty is DeadSeptember 28, 2013 at 2:40 PM

    Karen Black! No freaking way! Thank you Shak, Patty will have to check that out.

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