Sacramento has no shortage of dark history, but few stories grip the public imagination quite like that of Dorothea Puente. Now, HBO is bringing the notorious serial killer’s tale to prestige television, with Oscar-winning actress Geena Davis set to star in and executive produce the forthcoming series.
Puente’s crimes represent one of Sacramento’s most chilling chapters. During the 1980s, she operated a boarding house on F Street in downtown Sacramento where she preyed on vulnerable tenants. She drugged, killed, and buried them in the backyard—then methodically collected their Social Security benefits, turning her victims’suffering into profit. In November 1988, police uncovered seven bodies buried on the property, sparking one of the region’s most intense manhunts. Puente was arrested in Los Angeles and eventually sentenced to life in prison, where she died of natural causes in 2011 at age 82.
What makes this HBO project particularly noteworthy is the caliber of talent attached. Geena Davis brings serious dramatic weight to any project, and her involvement signals that HBO is treating this not as sensationalist true crime fodder, but as a character-driven examination of a deeply disturbing criminal mind. This isn’t the first time Puente’s story has captured on-screen attention—Netflix’s“Worst Roommate Ever”and Very Local’s“Hometown Tragedy”have both explored her case—but the HBO series represents the most high-profile adaptation yet.
The F Street boarding house itself has become something of a macabre landmark in Sacramento’s historical consciousness. The property has since been renovated and is now available for tours, a strange intersection of crime tourism and preservation. The HBO series will undoubtedly reignite public fascination with Puente, drawing fresh eyes to a Sacramento story that, nearly four decades later, still unsettles the city.
No release date has been announced, but when this series lands, it’ll be one that Sacramento—and true crime audiences nationwide—will be watching closely.
About the Author
Andrew Johnson
Andrew Johnson is a contributor to LocalBeat, covering local news and community stories.
