Woman allegedly held captive, tortured and killed after visiting someone she thought was 'friend'

A woman was trapped and tortured by someone she thought was a "friend" before she was found dead in a basement, according to prosecutors.

Nicole Cuevas-Ingram, 38, from Saginaw, Michigan, was reportedly visiting a friend in Pennsylvania, but her stay turned rogue as she was allegedly held against her will, tortured, and murdered. Five people have been arrested after her badly decomposed body was discovered.

Investigators uncovered her remains on February 27 buried in a basement in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. Authorities revealed that her body was wrapped in a tarp and tied with cords and rope.

Luzerne County District Attorney Sam Sanguedolce said that Cuevas-Ingram was killed and buried in April 2023. According to the district attorney, she had come to Wilkes-Barre with one of the accused, thinking they were friends, but things took a dark turn.

READ MORE: Kaylee Gain keeps 'talking in a loop' as dad gives update on teen's recovery after brutal fight

During her captivity, she endured unimaginable suffering, being handcuffed to a basement post and subjected to weeks of severe beatings, resulting in multiple injuries including broken bones, stab wounds, and indications of strangulation, according to court records seen by Times Leader.

Sanguedolce said: "During her stay, [Cuevas-Ingram] was handcuffed to a basement post, and over the course of several weeks, she was severely beaten, the beatings resulted in bruising, a broken ankle, nearly all of her ribs were broken, her nasal cavity was destroyed, her head was shaved, she was stabbed and slashed in several places including her arm, torso and all over her back, and her hyoid bone in her neck was broken, that is generally indicative to investigators of strangulation."

Click here to follow the Mirror US on Google News to stay up to date with all the latest news, sport and entertainment stories.

The five suspects, including a mother and daughter, were arrested and charged with various crimes including criminal homicide, kidnapping, aggravated assault, and abuse of corpse. All five were arraigned by District Judge Rick Cronauer and denied bail.

The suspects in custody include Desiree Kehaun Linnette, 43, and her daughter Sarai Kamalani Doyle, 24, both of Edwardsville; Jason P. Race, 43, and Faith L. Beamer, 39, both of Wilkes-Barre; and William Benjamin Wolfe, 54, listed as homeless.

Join the Mirror's SMS news service to get the biggest breaking stories delivered straight to your phone. Click here to subscribe.

The suspects are being held without bail as the investigation continues. Authorities are also looking into the death of another woman, Deborah Fox, 69, who might be connected to the case. Anyone with information is urged to contact the Wilkes-Barre Police.

Fox's partially decomposed body was discovered in a wooded area in Wilkes-Barre on March 26. Fox was the former owner of the residence where Cuevas-Ingram was found. She sold the property in September 2023, according to investigators.