Netflix's latest true crime documentary series dropped last week, and viewers are already feeling disturbed by the dark story of Dorothea Puente.
Worst Roommate Ever tells the chilling tales of people who fall prey to their roommate's secret violent fantasies.
The first episode kicks the series off with the crimes of Dorothea Puente, a seemingly sweet and innocent old lady who welcomed the vulnerable homeless to her Sacramento home during the 1980s.
But unknown to her guests, Puente had sinister intentions. After luring the mentally disabled and elderly into her home, she would steal their social security cheques and murder them.
In the documentary, we hear from social worker Judy, who entrusted Puente to look after a vulnerable schizophrenic man Alvaro 'Bert' Montoya. When Bert went missing, Judy was understandably suspicious - but Puente insisted that he had left her house to go and live with family in Mexico.
However, Judy wasn't convinced. After an unsettling account from a fellow resident came to light, she filed a missing person report and kickstarted a police investigation.
At Judy's insistence, detectives explored Puente's backyard. When they began to dig, Puente's dark secrets began to spill out into the light.
Not only were Bert's remains found buried, but detectives also unearthed other human remains. It soon became clear that Bert wasn't the only roommate the Puente had disposed of.
In total, police discovered seven bodies buried in her back garden, per the New York Post, all belonging to former residents of Puente's 'care home'. Two more bodies - including that of Puente's former boyfriend - were found in the Sacramento river.
As the dark truth was slowly revealed, it became clear that Puente had been forcing her victims to overdose while she stole their social security cheques. Among the innocent and vulnerable people who she murdered were Ruth Monroe, Dorothy Miller, Benjamin Fink, Leona Carpenter, Betty Palmer, James Gallop, and Vera Faye Martin.
The murderous landlady was charged with nine counts of murder in 1993. However, she was only convicted of killing three victims - Dorothy Miller, Benjamin Fink, and Leona Carpenter.
The unsuspecting elderly lady was sentenced to life imprisonment for her crimes - though she continued to claim she was innocent until she died in prison aged 82.
All episodes of Worst Roommate Ever are available to watch on Netflix now.
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