Alvaro “Bert” Montoya, a 51-year-old Hispanic male, was one of the victims in a chilling series of murders that took place in Sacramento, California during the 1980s. Montoya, who had developmental disabilities and was a former tenant at a boarding house located at 1426 F Street, disappeared under suspicious circumstances. His Social Security checks continued to be cashed even after he was reported missing, raising red flags that ultimately led to a deeper investigation.
Authorities discovered Montoya’s remains buried in the yard of the boarding house, along with the bodies of several other individuals. The property was operated by Dorothea Montalvo Puente, a 59-year-old woman who had a criminal history involving drugging and robbing elderly individuals. Puente was charged with the murder of Alvaro “Bert” Montoya and was later implicated in the deaths of at least eight other people, all of whom were vulnerable tenants whose government assistance checks she allegedly continued to collect after their deaths.
During the investigation, police also arrested 46-year-old Ismael Carrasco Florez, a handyman who worked for Puente. Florez was accused of being an accessory to murder after admitting to building a makeshift coffin at Puente’s request and helping her dispose of it near the Sacramento River. He claimed he believed the box contained her personal belongings. Florez was released on $3,000 bail and was not under surveillance following his release.
The case against Puente gained national attention due to the gruesome nature of the crimes and the vulnerability of the victims. Preliminary hearings began in 1990, and the trial concluded in 1993 with Puente being sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. She died in 2011 while serving her sentence. The murder of Alvaro “Bert” Montoya, a 51-year-old Hispanic male, remains one of the most haunting elements of this tragic case, emblematic of the exploitation and violence inflicted upon society’s most defenseless individuals.
