To her neighbors in Sacramento, California, Dorothea Puente was a sweet, grandmotherly figure. She wore floral dresses, baked homemade cookies, and ran a boarding house for the unhoused, elderly, and the mentally ill. She was looked at as a neighborhood saint - until the stench of death began wafting from her immaculate rose garden. This week, we dive into the chilling story of one of America’s most deceptive female serial killers.

Content Warning:

This episode discusses themes of elder abuse, the exploitation of vulnerable adults, poisoning, and human decomposition. It may not be suitable for all audiences, so listener discretion is advised.

Music:

https://uppbeat.io/t/oliver-massa/graveyard-tango

License code: 6CU5MIMVDNS2IMAJ

For decades, Richard Cottingham was convicted of only a handful of murders, but the true scale of his trail of blood is only now coming to light. From his initial arrest in 1980 to his shocking 2026 confession regarding the 1965 murder of Alys Jean Eberhardt, Cottingham has spent his life in prison slowly doling out the truth to investigators. Join us as we explore his unique "cat-and-mouse" relationship with detectives, the forensic breakthroughs solving 60-year-old cold cases, and the chilling possibility that his true victim count may reach into the triple digits.

Content Warning:

This episode covers a highly disturbing case file out of Knoxville, Tennessee. The discussion of Thomas Huskey includes graphic depictions of predatory behavior targeting sex workers, severe sexual sadism, and the post-mortem concealment of victims. The episode also touches on complex and controversial legal testimonies regarding severe trauma and Dissociative Identity Disorder. Listener discretion is advised.

Music:

https://uppbeat.io/t/oliver-massa/graveyard-tango

License code: 6CU5MIMVDNS2IMAJ

In late 2007, a shadow fell over the national forests of Georgia, Florida, and North Carolina. When 24-year-old Meredith Emerson went hiking with her dog on New Year’s Day and never returned, a massive manhunt revealed a predator hiding in plain sight. Gary Hilton wasn't just a drifter; he was a cold-blooded killer who stalked the trails he knew by heart. This week, we follow the harrowing search for Meredith, the heartbreaking discovery of the Bryants in Pisgah National Forest, and the "Beast of Blood Mountain" who turned the Great Outdoors into a graveyard.

Content Warning:

Before we step into the woods, be advised that this episode contains graphic accounts of predatory tracking, psychological terror, blunt-force trauma, and the post-mortem desecration of human remains. It is intended for mature audiences only, and listener discretion is strongly advised.

CourtTV Gary Hilton Interview

Music:

https://uppbeat.io/t/oliver-massa/graveyard-tango

License code: 6CU5MIMVDNS2IMAJ