Read the following passage, then answer the questions based solely on information from the passage. A Female Serial Killer Most of the research on serial killers has focused on men who kill multiple victims (three or more) over a period of time, on separate occasions. The paucity of research has left us with minimal information about the female serial killer. The limited research conducted on women shows that female serial killing statistically parallels rates of gender differences in the overall crime rate—women still account for a small percentage of criminal activity and a... Show more Read the following passage, then answer the questions based solely on information from the passage. A Female Serial Killer Most of the research on serial killers has focused on men who kill multiple victims (three or more) over a period of time, on separate occasions. The paucity of research has left us with minimal information about the female serial killer. The limited research conducted on women shows that female serial killing statistically parallels rates of gender differences in the overall crime rate—women still account for a small percentage of criminal activity and a very small percentage of serial killers. Nonetheless, we should not underestimate their dangerousness or the great harm they pose to society. Dorothea Puente is serving a life sentence in a California prison without the possibility of parole for three counts of murder but, she is believed to have killed as many as 25 victims. Puente was not a typical looking serial killer; she resembled a grandmother. At the time of her trial, she looked like an older woman in her seventies even though she was only 59 years old. She had pale skin, white hair, blue eyes, and false teeth. Puente ran a boardinghouse for society's undesirables (e.g., alcoholics/drug users, the mentally ill, the elderly). She kept an extremely beautiful boardinghouse and was known in the community for her generosity. She portrayed herself as a Hispanic woman who generously donated her time and money to Hispanic organizations. She told some people that she was a retired doctor, and some knew her as a retired nurse. Most people loved her, but others felt she was very strange, and some were the victims of her rage driven temper. Everything about her life was a complete lie. Puente was a chameleon: She could change her age, appearance, or personality at any time, and she had the ability to fool everyone and anyone around her. Puente had an extensive criminal history. She worked in various nursing homes and was accused of administering black market medication to her clients in order to steal their money. She served various prison terms for forgery and for residing in a house of ill fame. In 1978, she was convicted of illegally cashing 34 government checks. In the 1980s, Puente would also serve time in prison on charges of forgery, grand theft, and property crimes. After her last prison term, she opened a successful boardinghouse in Sacramento. Puente was brought under suspicion for murder when one of her tenants suddenly disappeared. During their investigation, the police discovered that at least 25 of her tenants had either died of 'natural causes' or had mysteriously vanished. Although these tenants were dead, she was still collecting and cashing their social security checks. Police found nine bodies buried deep in her backyard; some were under her garden, while others were found under her cement patio. Only one body was severely mutilated. All of the bodies were mummified. They were wrapped in several layers of material and plastic. They were meticulously duct-taped, sprinkled with lime, and placed in the fetal position. Police believed that she poisoned all of her victims, but the coroner was unable to determine the exact cause of death. Show less
Read the following passage, then answer the questions based solely on information from the passage.
A Female Serial Killer Most of the research on serial killers has focused on men who kill multiple victims (three or more) over a period of time, on separate occasions. The paucity of research has left us with minimal information about the female serial killer. The limited research conducted on women shows that female serial killing statistically parallels rates of gender differences in the overall crime rate—women still account for a small percentage of criminal activity and a very small percentage of serial killers. Nonetheless, we should not underestimate their dangerousness or the great harm they pose to society. Dorothea Puente is serving a life sentence in a California prison without the possibility of parole for three counts of murder but, she is believed to have killed as many as 25 victims. Puente was not a typical looking serial killer; she resembled a grandmother. At the time of her trial, she looked like an older woman in her seventies even though she was only 59 years old. She had pale skin, white hair, blue eyes, and false teeth. Puente ran a boardinghouse for society's undesirables (e.g., alcoholics/drug users, the mentally ill, the elderly). She kept an extremely beautiful boardinghouse and was known in the community for her generosity. She portrayed herself as a Hispanic woman who generously donated her time and money to Hispanic organizations. She told some people that she was a retired doctor, and some knew her as a retired nurse. Most people loved her, but others felt she was very strange, and some were the victims of her rage driven temper. Everything about her life was a complete lie.
Puente was a chameleon: She could change her age, appearance, or personality at any time, and she had the ability to fool everyone and anyone around her. Puente had an extensive criminal history. She worked in various nursing homes and was accused of administering black market medication to her clients in order to steal their money. She served various prison terms for forgery and for residing in a house of ill fame. In 1978, she was convicted of illegally cashing 34 government checks. In the 1980s, Puente would also serve time in prison on charges of forgery, grand theft, and property crimes. After her last prison term, she opened a successful boardinghouse in Sacramento. Puente was brought under suspicion for murder when one of her tenants suddenly disappeared. During their investigation, the police discovered that at least 25 of her tenants had either died of 'natural causes' or had mysteriously vanished. Although these tenants were dead, she was still collecting and cashing their social security checks. Police found nine bodies buried deep in her backyard; some were under her garden, while others were found under her cement patio. Only one body was severely mutilated. All of the bodies were mummified. They were wrapped in several layers of material and plastic. They were meticulously duct-taped, sprinkled with lime, and placed in the fetal position. Police believed that she poisoned all of her victims, but the coroner was unable to determine the exact cause of death.
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