I grew up in Wilkes-Barre, and researching local history and genealogy is a hobby of mine. I learned from old newspaper articles that this section of Wilkes-Barre that includes 142 Carlisle Street was built on an old Native American burial ground. Seriously.
In the 1800s, it was the site of the E.W. Sturdevant Estate, also known as the Firwood Estate, until it was sold to developers in 1894. The Firwood Land Company began to develop the land and divide it into plots circa 1895.
As they were digging to build roads and later foundations, they unearthed several Native American burial sites, per newspaper reports of that time. See here and here. Some reports describe a vast burial ground stretching to the banks of the Susquehanna River, but I haven’t found any documentation to confirm it was that extensive.
Given this history, there’s a small chance the bones found in the basement on Carlisle Street, which was built on the former Sturdevant Estate, might be from an old burial ground. I write “small” chance because you’d think any burial sites would have been unearthed back when the foundation was dug.
But as the meme goes, the entire United States was built on an old Indian burial ground.
1904 Sanborn Map showing the E.W. Sturdevant Estate/Carlisle Street in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania
A body was found behind the Host Inn in Wilkes-Barre, PA. Photo credit: NEPATrueCrime.com
After a day of much speculation on social media, the coroner, police chief, and DA have confirmed that the body found in the wooded area behind TGI Fridays/the Host Inn is connected to the 142 Carlisle Street investigation. That’s the house where a body was found buried in the basement. It’s also the former home of missing woman Debra Jane Fox.
Investigators are still working to obtain a positive investigation of both sets of remains, “each of which was found to have some degree of decomposition,” says the press release.
No further information is being released at this time due to the sensitive nature of the investigation.
Anyone with information related to this incident is urged to contact the Wilkes-Barre City Detective Division c/o Lt. Matthew Stash 570-208-0911 or Detective James Conmy 570-208-6775.
On March 12, 2024, authorities retrieved a body from the Susquehanna River near the Kirby Park side of the Market Street Bridge. Since then, there have been no updates regarding the identity of the individual or the circumstances surrounding their death.
The body was found floating face-down in the swiftly flowing river, which was experiencing higher-than-normal water levels of 13 feet at the time. This water level is considered elevated for this section of the Susquehanna.
The above is literally the only information I can find about this case, so I’ve created this blog post to keep tabs on it.
Update March 28, 2024: Officials announced the body found in the woods behind TGI Fridays/hotels is linked to the 142 Carlisle St. death investigation, at the former home of missing Wilkes-Barre woman Debra Fox.
March 27, 2024
What is up with the recent spate of unidentified remains in Wilkes-Barre? We still haven’t had an update about the body found in the Susquehanna River near Kirby Park on March 12. And the investigation into the remains found in a basement at 142 Carlisle Street in Wilkes-Barre is ongoing.
Yesterday, authorities found a body in the area behind the TGI Fridays on Kidder Street in Wilkes-Barre. This location is part of a complex that includes three 2-star hotels: the Host Inn All Suites, Wilkes-Barre Inn & Suites, and Fairfield Inn.
The Times Leader reported that a significant police presence, including Wilkes-Barre police and state troopers, arrived at the scene shortly before noon on Tuesday, March 26, 2024. The body was discovered at the bottom of a steep embankment in a wooded area behind the Host Inn All Suites Hotel.
The terrain was so dense that the Public Works Department had to clear access using chainsaws and pole saws. Wooden planks were also used to create makeshift steps on the steep slope. Luzerne County Coroner Jill Matthews removed the body shortly before 3 p.m.
PaHomePage spoke with a Wilkes-Barre man who said told them he’s observed police searching the woods behind the hotel for months. “I’ve seen them coming in and out; detectives have been digging every day,” he said.
Really?
Police Chief Joseph Coffay told the Times Leader more information will be released later.
Update March 28, 2024: Officials announced the body found in the woods behind TGI Fridays/hotels is linked to the 142 Carlisle St. death investigation, at the former home of missing Wilkes-Barre woman Debra Fox.
Human remains were recovered from the basement of a vacant house on Carlisle Street on February 27, 2024. The house is one of a row of six. At first, law enforcement didn’t confirm if the remains were human or animal.
Now, the remains have been confirmed human but not yet identified, according to a joint news release from the coroner, police chief, and D.A. Hopefully DNA can identify those remains ASAP. There is no shortage of missing persons cases in NEPA.
The house at 142 Carlisle was sold at a tax “upset sale” in September 2023. The deed for the home was recorded January 26,2024. The remains seemed to have been discovered when the new owner, who appears to be an out-of-town investment buyer, was clearing things out of the house, like old mattresses.
The home belonged to a single family for several decades, going back to the late 1940s. Before these recent sales in 2023 and 2024, Debra “Debbie” Jane (Race) Fox and her husband Daniel owned the home. Debra’s parents, Luke and Elsie Race, owned the home before that.
According to her two daughters, Debra, who is 69 year old, moved out of the Carlisle St. house during the summer of 2023 and had been living in a nearby hotel. The two women say they haven’t seen or heard from their mother since early February 2024.
Debra Fox – Missing
The Times Leader recently reported that Debra Jane Fox had an active protection-from-abuse order against Jason Paul Race, 43, who also resided at 142 Carlisle. (He is likely a relative of Debra’s since her maiden name is Race.) She petitioned for the PFA on August 14, 2023, claiming horrific elder abuse, “…she was starved, assaulted, shot with pellet guns, pistol whipped, denied personal hygiene products, forced to use illicit drugs and had money stolen from her.”
Jason Paul Race was also in trouble with the law on July 27, 2023 for obstruction. The charges were dismissed, but they mention that a man claims he was held in the basement of 142 Carlisle St. against his will. It says he was held there because he was accused of sexually assaulting a child. The TL report doesn’t state who made the accusations or who held him in the basement.
[redacted Apr 4. 2024]
Information needed
Investigators are trying to locate Debra Jane Fox as well as anyone who has lived in the house at 142 Carlisle Street during the past 12 to 24 months. Based on what a neighbor told reporters, it seems like a lot of people were coming and going from the house in recent years.
If you have any information relating to this case, contact The Wilkes-Barre Detective Division c/o Lt Mathew Stash at 570-208-0911 or Detective James Conmy at 570-208-6775.
Also, you can submit an anonymous tip through PA Crime Stoppers, and if your tip leads to an arrest, you could be eligible for a $5,000 reward.
News reporting from early into the investigation of the human remains discovered on Carlisle Street
