Woman pleads guilty in Wilkes-Barre double murder case

Sarai Doyle admits to third-degree murder charges in deaths of Nicole Cuevas and Debra Fox

Published on Feb. 19, 2026

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Sarai Doyle has pleaded guilty to two counts of third-degree murder in the deaths of Nicole Cuevas and Debra Fox in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. Doyle agreed to testify against her mother, Desiree Linette, and three other individuals allegedly involved in the killings as part of a plea deal.

Why it matters

This case highlights the ongoing challenges in Wilkes-Barre and Luzerne County to address violent crime, with multiple suspects involved in the brutal murders of Cuevas and Fox. The plea deal represents an effort to secure convictions, though the district attorney notes the case is not over until all defendants are resolved.

The details

Investigators say five people beat and tortured Nicole Cuevas before burying her body in the basement of a home along Carlisle Street in South Wilkes-Barre in April 2023. About a year later, in February 2024, Cuevas' body was found, and a month after that, the owner of the Carlisle Street home, Debra Fox, was found dead in a wooded area off the Cross Valley Expressway. Sarai Doyle and her mother, Desiree Linette, were among those charged with Fox's homicide.

  • In April 2023, Nicole Cuevas was beaten, tortured, and buried in the basement of a home in South Wilkes-Barre.
  • In February 2024, Nicole Cuevas' body was discovered.
  • About a month after Cuevas' body was found, Debra Fox was found dead in a wooded area off the Cross Valley Expressway.
  • On Tuesday, February 17, 2026, Sarai Doyle pleaded guilty to two counts of third-degree murder.

The players

Sarai Doyle

A woman who pleaded guilty to two counts of third-degree murder in the deaths of Nicole Cuevas and Debra Fox as part of a plea deal, agreeing to testify against her mother and three other individuals allegedly involved in the killings.

Desiree Linette

Sarai Doyle's mother, who was also charged with Debra Fox's homicide and is expected to be tried separately.

Nicole Cuevas

One of the two women killed, whose body was found buried in the basement of a home in South Wilkes-Barre.

Debra Fox

The owner of the home where Nicole Cuevas' body was found, who was later found dead in a wooded area off the Cross Valley Expressway.

Sam Sanguedolce

The Luzerne County District Attorney, who commented that the case is not over until the last of the defendants' cases is resolved.

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What they’re saying

“I don't think that getting one out of five makes us feel anything; we're pretty much trained that this case isn't over until the last of the defendants' cases is resolved.”

— Sam Sanguedolce, Luzerne County District Attorney (wnep.com)

What’s next

The judge will now decide whether to accept Sarai Doyle's plea deal, and the remaining defendants in the case are expected to be tried separately.

The takeaway

This case highlights the ongoing challenges in Wilkes-Barre and Luzerne County to address violent crime, with multiple suspects involved in the brutal murders of Nicole Cuevas and Debra Fox. The plea deal represents an effort to secure convictions, though the district attorney notes the case is not over until all defendants are resolved.