A shocking case in Luzerne County has reached a significant turning point as an Edwardsville woman admits to her involvement in two murders associated with a disturbing torture scenario in Wilkes-Barre. Desiree Linnette, 45, has pled guilty in Luzerne County Court, marking her as the third suspect to do so.
Having faced charges in the deaths of Nicole Cuevas-Ingram and Debra Fox, and the assault of Anthony Cook, Linnette has taken responsibility for all three incidents in a plea before Judge Joseph F. Sklarosky Jr. Luzerne County District Attorney Sam Sanguedolce confirmed the plea agreement, stating, “She entered a guilty plea to first-degree murder and is facing life without parole on those cases, in exchange for us not seeking the death penalty.” Linnette’s sentencing is pending.
The Cases
Linnette’s involvement spans three significant events:
● Nicole Cuevas-Ingram, whose remains were unearthed from a basement at 142 Carlisle St. in February 2024, endured prolonged torture before her death in April 2023. Investigators assert that she was subjected to severe physical abuse over weeks. Cuevas-Ingram was reportedly in Wilkes-Barre to explore a potential relationship with Linnette. Instead, she faced brutal treatment and was ultimately killed by Jason Race, who has also entered a guilty plea.
● Debra Fox, the previous owner of the Carlisle Street property, was reportedly subjected to months of abuse before being killed by Linnette and Sarai Doyle, Linnette’s daughter, in January 2024. Her body was found in a wooded area in March 2024.
● Anthony Cook was discovered in July 2023, having been severely beaten. He managed to escape what DA Sanguedolce termed a “house of horrors,” having been detained and accused by Linnette and others of inappropriate conduct.
The Suspects
In connection with Cuevas-Ingram’s death, five individuals were arrested: Faith Beamer, Desiree Linnette, Sarai Doyle, Jason Race, and William Wolfe. They face multiple charges, including criminal homicide and aggravated assault.
Within the developments:
● Sarai Doyle admitted to two counts of third-degree murder in February 2026, relating to both Cuevas and Fox.
● Jason Race has accepted a guilty plea for first-degree murder and other charges in Cuevas’s death and agreed to the aggravated assault charge for attacking Cook.
● Desiree Linnette has now entered her plea for murder and assault related to all three victims.
● Faith Beamer and William Wolfe await trial in the Cuevas-Ingram case.
District Attorney Sanguedolce refrained from discussing potential testimonies from the defendants, emphasizing the importance of maintaining the integrity of ongoing cases. “The plea kind of speaks for itself,” he remarked, highlighting the ongoing work by law enforcement to resolve all cases involved.
