Book Announcement Update...

Trial Book to be published by Magnus Books. More detailed information shortly...

Joe's Dad Buy's the Farm in September...

http://www.amosfamily.com/2010/09/fred-joseph-kerekes/comment-page-1/#comment-8656

“I was so sad to learn about Uncle Fred. My kids called him Uncle “Jesus” because the first time they remember meeting him he had his Jesus hat on”…

He had the same hat on during Joe and Harlow’s trial… the guy was strange.

Harlow Tries Again...

After having his appeal denied by the Superior Court of Pennsylvania on October 14th, convicted murderer Harlow Cuadra has now filed an appeal with the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania.

Something tells me that he'll get the same answer... No!

New Book Deal Shortly...

Andrew and I hope to announce a new book deal shortly.

It's all about ironing-out the 'kinks'. :)

Update @ 11/16/2010: We seem to have gotten interest from several publishers... this may take a little longer than thought. :)

Update @ 12/12/2010: An announcement will be made within the next 7 days.

Court Rejects Harlow's Appeal

The Superior Court of Pennsylvania has upheld the conviction and life sentence handed to Harlow Cuadra for the murder of Bryan Kocis. No additional appeals have been filed as of today.

In a five page ruling issued on Oct. 14, the Superior Court upheld Cuadra’s conviction and sentencing, stating Olszewski’s rulings before and during Cuadra’s trial were “well detailed and well-reasoned.”

“We can find no error in its factual findings and corollary legal conclusions,” the appellate court ruled on each of the issues Cuadra challenged.

Times Leader Story

Alyson Books...

Apparently Alyson Books has chosen to go e-book only... well we won't.

Andrew and I are currently seeking a new publisher, and apologize for any delay this may have. Rest-assured... the book will be published.

Civil Suit Settled...

The Kocis family's wrongful death suit against convicted murderer's Harlow Cuadra and Jospeh Kerekes has been settled out of court today. It's a sealed settlement, so we don't know exactly what the terms are (yet).

Check back for further updates.

Harlow Cuadra's Appeal... Something's Going On...

Update @ 07/20/2010: I probably should have clarified this earlier... but... this isn't Harlow Cuadra's actual appeal that's being decided, but rather the court has received all they need, and they've appointed the three judges listed below to review the appeal and consider the merits.

-----
It would appear (and I could be wrong) that convicted murder Harlow Cuadra's appeal is now in the hands of a three-panel judge decision:

Case Processing Status: July 13, 2010 Awaiting Decision

Journal Number: J-S53014-10

Consideration Type: Submitted on Briefs-Panel

Listed/Submitted Date: July 12, 2010

Panel Composition:

The Honorable Jack A. Panella

The Honorable Jacqueline O. Shogan

The Honorable Anne E. Lazarus

When a ruling is made, I'll be sure to announce it.

Harlow Cuadra is currently serving a double-life sentence for the brutal murder of Bryan Kocis. His co-defendant Joseph Kerekes, pleaded guilty in December 2008 to second-degree murder and was sentenced to life in prison.

Kocis Civil Suit... Dates Set

The Kocis family's wrongfull death suit against convicted murders Harlow Cuadra and Joseph Kerekes is scheduled for October 7 and 8 at 9:30 a.m., before Judge William Amesbury. Both Harlow and Joe will appear via video from their respective prisons.

What Happened to Melnick?

On June 11, 2010... Frank P. Barletta filed an "entry of appearance" for the Luzerne County DA's office with the Superior Court of Pennsylvania, regarding convicted murder Harlow Cuadra's appeal.

While it's widely known that Barletta strictly does appeals for Luzerne County... it makes one wonder... what happened to the original prosecutor Michael Melnick, and why isn't he still handling this?

Update @ 06/27/2010: A source tells me that the reason Melnick is no longer listed as the DA, is because Frank Barletta handles higher court appeals for the Luzerne County District Attorney's Office. Jackie Musto Carroll does it that way so regular ADA's aren't jammed up with appeals and can concentrate on current caseloads, leaving Barletta to handle appeals.

Will The Delays Ever End?

I feel like a broken record...

The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania filed an application for an extension of time to file the brief on 04/30/2010, the Court approved the extension to 05/28/2010, and then again to 06/11/2010.

"Appellee's brief due 6/11/10. No further extensions will be granted."

We'll see... something tells me that the book will be out, before Harlow Cuadra's chance for an appeal can even be decided upon.

Update @ 06/14/2010: A quick check of the docket shows that nothing's been filed thus far.

Update @ 6/15/2010: Well it would appear that the Appellee's Brief was filed on 06/11/2010 (guess the clerk was a little slow to update)... an Entry of Appearance by D.A. Frank P. Barletta was also filed.

Harlow Cuadra's Fans?

Even though Harlow Caudra has been convicted of the brutal murder of Bryan Kocis, and is currently serving two life terms in a Pennsylvania prision... he still seems to have fans. Can these folks get any more delisuional?

First we have dear old Nep... who decided to send Harlow a Valentine's message via Facebook... not sure how Harlow would be able to receive it... but I guess it's the thought that counts.

Next we have Natasha from England, who diligently recite's Harlow's letters written to her... shared on YouTube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VFFMaQbFF3Q

Not once... but twice:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3BsalbNvoGU

... and if that wasn't bizzare enough, she's also started a blog:

http://fuckyeahfreeharlowcuadra.tumblr.com/

'Young teenage British girl & old Filipino man that works at Wendy's, both HEART former Gay porn actor turned murderer' -- this is an ODD world indeed!

Update @ 05/17/10 - 7:00 PM: It gets even more bizzare with 'Natasha's' latest rambling's posted 9 hours ago...

http://www.youtube.com/user/BitchinDiva#p/a/u/0/TwPzGK4bXV8

Natasha is a trip - she obviously is smitten with Harlow and with the idea that if you want to contact him, you have to contact her. Wrong... but I guess she can have her fantasy. Girls her age should be trying to get guys her age (or girls) to kiss her at a school dance, not writing to convicted porn killer murderers in American prisons. Weird. Weird. Weird.

My thanks to book co-author Andrew Stoner for helping with this story.

More Delays...

The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania has filed an application for an extension of time to file the brief. No response from the Court yet, but I'm sure they'll grant it.

I guess it really shouldn't come as any surprise.

Barebacking Gay Porn Star Too Hot for Yale

This is a story about gay porn star Brent Corrigan (Sean Lockhart) and how Yale canceled his speaking engagement.

Read more...

Zzz...

There's likely to be periods of quiet-time on the blog... guess we'll here more later this month.

Records Finally Filed...

While they were due back on March 19, 2010... Harlow Cuadra's Brief and Reproduced Record has finally been filed... yesterday, March 29, 2010.

The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is expected to file their Brief by April 28, 2010.

Today's Civil Hearing...

As reported on March 15, 2010... there was a  hearing today, regarding the civil case that Michael Kocis filed against Harlow Cuadra and Joseph Kerekes on behalf of Bryan Kocis' estate.

Sources tell me that the hearing only lasted about 15 minutes, and that Harlow Cuadra and Joseph Kerekes appeared via video, both wearing brown prison jumpsuits with white t-shirts underneath.

Joe is now sporting a shaved head, while Harlow pretty-much still looks the same.

A bench trial for determination of what the two owe the Kocis family will be sometime after April... possibly June. The trial is expected to last two days. Joseph Kerekes and Harlow Cuadra will once again appear via video for the trial, as Joe asked that he not be transported, and Cuadra agreed.

Both indicated that they will not be obtaining counsel and will be representing themselves. Harlow stated that he has "no assets" to obtain a lawyer.

To Appeal... or Not to Appeal...

... that is the question.

While this story is still somewhat preliminary...

Convicted murder Harlow Cuarda's attorney Demetrius Fannick was scheduled to file the long awaited Brief and Reproduced Record today... it would appear that this didn't happen... again.

The Superior Court of Pennsylvania specifically stated the last time it approved a request from Fannick for an extension, that "No further extensions will be granted".

If Fannick didn't file the paperwork today, will the Superior Court throw out Harlow's appeal... is Fannick planning to quit?

Guess we'll see... who knows... this could be nothing at all.

Meanwhile, both Harlow Cuadra and Joseph Kerekes have a court date next week in regards to the Civil Case brought by Micheal Kocis.

Update @ 03/22/2010: After reviewing the court's docket again today... there's still no mention of there being a filing. I'm hoping to have an 'official word' confirming this in the morning, and am also working on trying to figure out what's exactly going on.

Update @ 03/23/2010: I'm told that Fannick didn't file anything in Luzerne County, but he doesn't really have to, he can file directly with the Superior Court. Thus far... the Superior Court is still not showing a filing. So the mystery continues...

Update @ 03/24/2010: Still nothing from the Superior Court... so unless something happens tomorrow, we probably won't hear from Harlow Cuadra and/or Joseph Kerekes until Friday... and who know's when we'll hear from Fannick.

The Civil Case... Redux

Sources tell me that there will be a hearing on March 26, 2010 before Judge William Amesbury, regarding the civil case Michael Kocis filed against Harlow Cuadra and Joseph Kerekes on behalf of Bryan Kocis' estate.

I'm not exactly sure what it'll be about, but I suspect that it will be to determine what payment Harlow Cuadra and Joseph Kerekes owe the Kocis family.

Michael Kocis’ suit, filed in Luzerne County Court of Common Pleas in January 2008, claimed Cuadra and Kerekes entered Bryan Kocis’ home and “jointly” or “separately” caused Bryan Kocis’ death and destroyed the home and property.

Neither responded to the suit, which led to a default judgment.

Harlow and Joe will both appear for the hearing via video.

The Book Deal is Done!

The book contract is now official as all parties have signed, sealed and delivered. So without further adieu, I'm happy to announce that the book deal is with Alyson Books, a division of Here Media, Inc. Additional information will be provided in the near future.

On an ironic note... this signing happened exactly 1 year from the date of Harlow Cuadra being found guilty by a Luzerne County Jury.

No... it wasn't planned.

Meanwhile... you can also read more information about the Book and it's Authors' here.

Update @ 03/17/2010: Just wanted to give everyone a quick update that the book now appears to be released sometime between Fall 2010 and Spring 2011. We'll be doing an official post shortly.

I just got word about this from the publisher yesterday.

Apparently they had to redo the fall 2010 list in order to accommodate the production budget, which means some books that were planned for release later this year will move to the following spring, 2011.

Perhaps we can get it released in March, wouldn't that be a hoot for timing (again).

The Voice from a Former Boy Batter Employee...

Here's a recent correspondence between me and Andrew Shunk (former Boy Batter model aka Mason Banks and Prosecution Witness), after a request to be 'friends' on Facebook:

Andrew Shunk March 9 at 8:39pm
so you're on of the asshole's that put people's names out to the public and wrote about them being confidential witnesses for everyone to read. You're the one who continually to call everyone out and made people's real names available and now I have to deal with wierdo stalkers! Oh thank you so much. I hope your enjoy your "enormous" wealth off of other peoples' past that they try to forget.

PC March 9 at 8:43pm
I only wrote about things that were public information. I'm certainly sorry you feel the way you do.

A "stalker" I'm not.

PC March 9 at 8:46pm
Take care, and I apologize for any offense taken.

Andrew Shunk March 9 at 8:48pm
anyone who spends their life doing nothing but following a pointless trial, calling out the gay porn stars and then thinking that they would friend you on facebook is def a stalker.

PC March 9 at 8:53pm
As I said before... I apologize if any offense was taken.

I wish you the best in your endeavours.

PC March 10 at 9:00pm
You testified at a public trial, and expected no one to ever write, talk or know about that? Get real. Your photo makes it look like you're still in the business, as it were.

Andrew Shunk March 10 at 9:08pm
you're right. i did expect old male perverts who never came out as a young adult and now expect young guys to believe their story that they will be a successful author by recording events of a gay porn murder into a book that no one is going to read, in hopes of getting them in bed. good luck. this conversation was ended yesterday...didn't realize it kept you stewing all day :-)

PC March 10 at 9:20pm
Ha... I have no interest in having you in bed. I saw you in the Best Western Genetti while I was having dinner with Renee Martin... (July a few years back). I have the trial transcripts... that's good enough.
---

I'll quote a response from someone that I shared this report with earlier:

"Most likely wants to put this part of his life behind him when it makes him look bad, but probably revels in the attention it gets him from people he likes. Love his automatic agism: Everyone but him is an old pervert who wants to bed him. I'm not old. I'm not a pervert. And I have no interest in bedding him.

In the end, what HE knows about writing and publishing a book would fill half a thimble. If he's naive and dumb enough to think this story does not have interest -- and that anyone who is interested in the story is just some mean pervert -- he needs to go home and take a nap while the big kids play."

PC Notes: It appears as if Mr. Shunk has since removed his photo and profile from Facebook.

Book Contract

The book contract was mutually agreed upon earlier this week, so now we're just waiting to receive the final version from the publisher for signing. I envision this to be completed sometime next week.

More details to be announced soon... including the Title, Publisher, Pre-sale Date, Facebook Fan Page, etc...

Update @ 03/08/2010: The contract was received in today's mail for signing... we're getting closer :). Do I hear the 'pop' of some bubbly? The next step will be cover design and artwork.

The Delay Game Continues...

Harlow Cuadra's paid attorney... Demetrius Fannick... filed yet another application yesterday for an extension of time to file the brief and reproduced record for Harlow's appeal. I'll update this post once the Superior Court gives an answer.

Update @ 2:53 PM: The Court once again approved Demetrius Fannick's extension request, and moved the due date to March 19, 2010. They also added the following comment: No further extensions will be granted. Looks like Mr. Fannick is actually going to have to produce something this time or else... that is unless he decides to quit.

From Blog to Book

More than one reader of this blog has asked along the way: “How and why did you decide to take the blog and make it into a book?” (a formal announcement of which will be coming in the near future).

That’s a good question – and ultimately, it was the blog itself that created the impetus for a book in the first place. Way back in 2007 (I can hardly believe it’s been three years already!) shortly after I started this blog about an incredible homicide case, I heard from people all across America. One of those was author Andrew E. Stoner of Indianapolis.

Stoner, who e-mailed me and complimented the quality of the PC Blog, is the author of two previous books, including a biography on an Indiana governor for which he served as deputy press secretary, and an interesting book on murders from each of Indiana’s 92 counties. Stoner was looking around for a new book idea when he came across the PC Blog.

http://www.amazon.com/Andrew-E.-Stoner/e/B0033GBR82/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_1

“I was mostly interested in this case because of PC’s blog,” Stoner said. “He has always covered this as a story of murder and a terrible crime, not just as some salacious porn report. I remember e-mailing to him and complimenting the quality of his coverage of the story, and the comprehensive nature of the information provided.”

I’m happy to report Andrew and I struck up a good friendship, talking back and forth both by e-mail and phone – conversations that included “How do you write a book?” That is a question I had and one that Andrew helped answer. To make a long story short, we decided upon combining efforts and going in on a book that would bring thoughtfulness and sense to this senseless crime (but one that included incredible twists and turns from Virginia to Pennsylvania to California).

“PC’s research on this case has been outstanding, and that means the book we have written will be the most comprehensive look anyone can get of this case,” Stoner said. “We have worked hard talking to sources, dividing up research tasks, and basically working in collaboration from the start to come up with the best final product we can.”

This has been a good partnership, I will attest. We’ve had good interaction about what angles to follow, who to interview, and both of us have been to Wilkes-Barre and Dallas, Pennsylvania so we can write from a specific point of view. Our goal was to talk to as many people that we could – many would not talk to us – but we tried nonetheless. (The good news: We scored some very key interviews with one of the convicted perpetrators, members of Bryan Kocis’ family, prosecutors and police, and many others.)

I am convinced readers of this blog – and even people who have never even heard of this case before – will be pleased and engaged as we tell the story of the murder of Bryan Kocis. (And that is the story, not just some ‘porn actors gone bad’ sort of tale.)

Another added bonus – with the announcement of the book, long-time readers of this blog will finally learn the identity of PC – I’m using my full name as co-author of the book as evidence of how proud Andrew and I are of our work.

Boy Batter Lives On?

This summary is not available. Please click here to view the post.

The Deadline's Coming...

Assuming Demetrius Fannick is the 'great attorney' he claims to be... we should see these filed tomorrow, or on Tuesday for Harlow's appeal.

Personally... I wouldn't even hold my breath... nor should Harlow Cuadra; thinking that there's even a remote chance for an appeal is just plain stupid. Just like the crime(s) that Harlow Cuadra and Joseph Kerekes are currently convicted of committing.

Update 02/07/2010: So far nothing has been filed... no surprise really. I'll update this story when something finally is.

Update 02/08/2010: Demetrius Fannick files an application for extension of time to file the brief and reproduced record.

Update 02/12/2010: On the same day Fannick files for an extension, the court grants the order. Fannick now has until March 4, 2010 to file the brief and reproduced record.

Book Announcement Update...

Things continue to go as planned... now we deal with "World English Rights"... or "World Rights"... thank God for Attorneys.

The joys of writing a book continue. :)

Update 01/13/2010: Once this 'little' issue is resolved... it's expected that the book will be available this Fall. I wish I could name the publisher, title, price, release date, etc... but that's just going to have to wait until the final contract is signed.

Update 01/19/2010: The "World Rights" issue has been resolved... and a publishing contract is expected to be signed within the next week or so. Once this is done, I'll provide more information.

Meanwhile... there hasn't been much going on in regards to Harlow's appeal.

Update 01/20/2010: Initial Contract in-hand... there's likely going to be some changes... but everything looks on schedule. Dotting you're I's and crossing your T's is a good thing.

Update 01/30/2010: An agreement is expected next week :).

Update 02/03/2010: We're just about there... the only thing that hasn't been agreed upon is the sub-title. I think we'll have that resolved by tomorrow.

Update 02/04/2010: I think we've been able to agree on the sub-title, now we get to deal with the "Errors and Ommission insurance policy". The glamorous parts of doing a book deal. :) I just keep reminding myself... "Dotting you're I's and crossing your T's is a good thing... and so are attorneys" :)

Update @ 03/17/2010: Just wanted to give everyone a quick update that the book now appears to be released sometime between Fall 2010 and Spring 2011. We'll be doing an official post shortly.

I just got word about this from the publisher yesterday.

Apparently they had to redo the fall 2010 list in order to accommodate the production budget, which means some books that were planned for release later this year will move to the following spring, 2011.

Perhaps we can get it released in March, wouldn't that be a hoot for timing (again).

Quick Update...

There were court papers signed yesterday by Luzerne County judge Thomas Burke allowing more than $4,000 to be paid to an investigation agency for Joseph Kerekes' case.

So it would appear, that he will also be the judge taking over Harlow Cuadra's appeal.

The Trial Book is Soon To Be Announced!

... once those pesky lawyers approve. :)

Who's the new Judge?

With Judge Peter Paul Olszewski, Jr. no longer on the bench... who will handle Harlow's murder appeal?

To be honest... I have no idea who will be handling Harlow Cuadra's appeal... but... I do know that Judge Thomas Burke (Luzerne County's new President Judge) will be reassigning all of PPO's cases... so when something happens, I'll let you all know.

Meanwhile... that 'huge announcement' I mentioned earlier... look for that to be made soon... perhaps as early as this week. (These things take time).