Reporter Andy Mehalshik interviews the sister of the man who escaped 142 Carlisle Street; shows footage of police welfare check on ‘house of horrors’.
In July 2023, a man named Anthony Cook escaped from the same basement where Nicole Cuevas was held and her remains were buried. Cook, like Cuevas, was reportedly assaulted in the basement of 142 Carlisle Street in Wilkes-Barre after being accused of child molestation. But unlike Cuevas, Cook managed to escape.
Officials say Cook’s escape was crucial in advancing the investigation into Nicole Cuevas’ homicide.
According to 28/22 News, Cook was held captive and beaten by murder suspects Desiree Linnette and Jason Race, along with two unidentified individuals described as “drug dealers.” He escaped through a basement window on the night of July 27, 2023, and ran to the Turkey Hill at 632 Carey Avenue, where he called 911. Police found him there, “beaten and bloodied,” with visible facial injuries.
In a televised interview, Patricia London, Cook’s sister, shared disturbing text messages she received around that time. She told 28/22 News reporter Andy Mehalshik that murder-suspect Desiree Linnette, whom she’d known for over 15 years, sent her a message that read:
“Your brother’s a child molester. He got what he got.”
London also received a photo of her injured brother from his ex-girlfriend.
She questioned Linnette’s conflicting claims. Linnette claimed she wasn’t there [when Cook was held captive and beaten] but Linette also said she’d tried to help him.
“Well if you weren’t there, but then you also tried to help him — which story is correct?”
According to The Citizens’ Voice, when police attempted to perform a welfare check on the child involved in the molestation allegation, Jason Race and Faith Beamer tried to block their access. Both were charged with obstruction of justice. Cook was never charged in connection with that allegation.
Sources
April 11, 2024: ‘House of Horrors’ investigation intensifies, PaHomePage
[PAYWALL]: April 10, 2024: Court records detail history of horrors at murder house, The Citizens Voice
April 10, 2024: Man claimed he was held captive in Carlisle Street basement, The Times Leader