Academy Award-winning actress Geena Davis has been cast as the lead in a new HBO crime drama series titled Dorothea, which will explore the heinous murders committed by 1980s serial killer Dorothea Puente. Known as the 'Killer Landlady' and the 'Death House Landlady,' Puente operated a boarding house in Sacramento, California, where she preyed on elderly and mentally vulnerable tenants.
Details of the Series
The series has been commissioned by HBO and will stream on HBO Max as well as air on the cable network. Davis, best known for her roles in Thelma and Louise, Beetlejuice, and Grey's Anatomy, will also serve as an executive producer. HBO described Puente's actions in a statement: "Her seemingly benevolent actions belied her sinister motives."
Puente's Crimes and Conviction
Puente operated her boarding house between 1982 and 1988. She was charged with murdering nine individuals, including multiple tenants. She poisoned her victims and buried their remains in the yard, allowing her to fraudulently claim their Social Security payments. She was convicted of three murders in 1993 and sentenced to life in prison. Puente died at the Central California Women's Facility in 2011 at the age of 82.
Background and Capture
Puente was arrested on November 16, 1988, after the bodies of several victims were discovered during an investigation into a missing resident. Her boarding house at 1426 F Street in Sacramento became the focus of media attention and later a 2015 documentary short titled The House Is Innocent. Puente has been featured in several true crime programs, including Deadly Women, World's Most Evil Killers, and Netflix's Worst Roommate Ever.
Previous Adaptations
A biographical film titled Dorothea was released in November 2025, with Susan Priver portraying the serial killer. The new HBO series marks the first major television dramatization of Puente's crimes, with Geena Davis taking on the titular role.
Dorothea will air on HBO and stream on HBO Max.
