Malcolm McKenzie, a 74-year-old male, was one of the victims connected to Dorothea Puente, a notorious serial killer who operated a boarding house in Sacramento, California. Puente was known for targeting vulnerable individuals, particularly the elderly and those in need of assistance. McKenzie accused Puente of drugging him and stealing his pension, leading to her conviction for theft and a five-year prison sentence.
Puente's crimes extended beyond financial fraud.
She was ultimately charged with nine murders, including McKenzie's, though she was convicted of only three. Her method involved luring victims into her boarding house, where she would manipulate and ultimately kill them to collect their government benefits. Many of her victims were buried in the yard of her residence at 1426 F Street in Sacramento.
Authorities uncovered Puente's crimes throughout the 1980s, as multiple deaths were linked to her boarding house. Investigators found that she had carefully crafted an innocent persona, wearing vintage clothing and adopting a grandmotherly appearance to avoid suspicion. Despite her conviction for theft in McKenzie's case, she continued her criminal activities upon her release from prison in 1985.
Puente was eventually arrested and stood trial for her crimes. The legal proceedings were extensive, with evidence including photographs, video footage, and witness testimonies. She was sentenced to life in prison without parole and remained incarcerated until her death at age 82 in 2011.
