Still No News...

After 7 months since my last post, there is still no new news to report in regards to Harlow Cuadra's fight for a new trial. One reliable source tells me that they "haven't seen anything get filed. PCRA's can go on for years".

So it looks like the waiting game will just continue.

Sources Tell Me...

Harlow Cuadra's PCRA hearing is "still scheduled for May 20 before Judge Fred Pierantoni. PCRA hearings are routine and normally non-newsworthy, but this one may have some fireworks".

Guess we'll see!

Update 05/09/2013: I'm told that Harlow will be attending the hearing.

Who's Zoomin Who?

Either Joseph Kerekes is a serial killer... or serial liar...

 

I'm posting a portion of a multi-page letter that Joe wrote back in 2011, which was given to me by a confidential source. Certain names have been redacted as well as phone numbers. I'd also like to add that this correspondence is nothing like the original face-to-face  interview  Joe did with co-author Andrew Stoner in 2009 for our book :

There's a couple of other pages that follow and I'll post them later.

-- PC

Harlow Cuadra's Original PCRA Filing

Here's a copy of the original PCRA that attorney Demetrius Fannick filed on Harlow Cuadra's behalf back in May 2012 (click on the pictures/pages for a larger view):

 

 

Cuadra Claims `Duress', Seeks Retrial...

That's the headline from the February 21, 2013 story at The Times Leader. According to reporter Ed Lewis:

 

"Luzerne County prosecutors want convicted murderer Harlow Cuadra to stay put.

Cuadra, 31, is seeking a new trial, claiming mistakes were made before and during the first jury trial in March 2009 that ended in a first-degree murder conviction. He was sentenced to life in prison with no chance of parole after the jury was unable to unanimously impose the death penalty.

 

State police at Wyoming and Dallas Township police had alleged Cuadra, of Virginia Beach, Va., killed Bryan Kocis, 44, inside Kocis' Midland Drive home in Dallas Township that was set ablaze on Jan. 24, 2007.

 

A co-conspirator in the case, Joseph Kerekes, 39, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in December 2008 and was sentenced to life in prison with no parole.

 

Investigators said Cuadra and Kerekes, who were partners in an escort business and website pornographic production company, planned the killing of Kocis, whom they considered their main rival.

 

Issues Cuadra raised in his petition for post-conviction relief include:

 

* His lawyers, Paul Walker and Joseph D'Andrea, did not have sufficient time to prepare for his defense. Walker and D'Andrea were hired in December 2008, about 90 days before the trial began.

* Kerekes was the actual killer.

* Witnesses testified Kerekes was an abusive boyfriend and business partner and controlled Cuadra.

* Walker and D'Andrea did not raise a "duress" defense due to Kerekes' controlling power over Cuadra.

 

* Disqualification of attorney Demetrius Fannick from defending Cuadra after Fannick had met Kerekes in jail. Cuadra and Kerekes had separate defense strategies.

* Trial Judge Peter Paul Olszewski Jr. permitted prosecutors to play for the jury a video of Cuadra lifting weights.

 

Prosecutors claim they had a right to have Fannick disqualified from defending Cuadra because Cuadra and Kerekes wanted separate trials due to their antagonistic defenses.

 

Although Fannick was disqualified to defend Cuadra for the first trial, he is representing him in an attempt for a new trial.

 

Prosecutors also claim Cuadra never raised the "duress" issue when he testified in his own defense.

 

Cuadra is serving his sentence at the State Correctional Institution at Coal Township in Schuylkill County. He is scheduled to appear before Judge Fred Pierantoni III on March 15."

It's Those Things that Make You Go... Hmm...

While we await the next likely delay in Harlow Cuadra's attempt for a new trial... I thought I'd post a small portion of a prison letter that was sent by Joseph Kerekes back in 2012. If nothing else, it's entertaining reading and has never been seen before:

Don't forget that you can buy the only published book that covered the case at CobraKiller.com

The Delays Continue...

Convicted murder Harlow Cuadra's PCRA hearing has been delayed yet again... I first reported about this back in May 2012 when it was supposed to occur on November 7, 2012, it was postponed to January 31, 2013, and now it's been moved to March 15, 2013.

 

I'll update this again in March (or sooner) to let you know what became of the hearing, or more likely... what the 'next' date is going to be.

- PC

There is Some News...

Convicted murder Harlow Raymond Cuadra files a PCRA petition today... more details to follow very shortly...

Through his once again Attorney Demetrius Fannick, Harlow Cuadra has filed a Defendant's Petition for Relief under the Post-Conviction Relief Act, filing seven pages of reasons why.

Guess we'll see what happens in November.

It's been Five Years...

Five years ago, Bryan Kocis was brutally murdered by convicted killers Harlow R. Cuadra and Joseph M. Kerekes, since that time we've witnessed hearings, trials, and then some. With the book coming out in May 2012, and the probability of there being little to no new news to further report, it's time for me to say farewell to updating this blog.

I want to personally thank everyone that participated over the years as either a reader, and/or commenter.

Thanks again,

Peter Conway (PC)

You've got to be kidding... Harlow fans still exist?

A post on our facebook page from a Harlow fan:

"Aimee Allen: But from your blog, it's almost as if you enjoy him suffering and think he got what he deserved. THAT is what I am asking you to stop doing. Have compassion. Please stop celebrating a victims pain."

My response to Aimee: "Aimee, this is PC, the blog administrator/author. While I can certainly understand your personal concerns, let's be honest. The only true victim in this case was Bryan Kocis. A jury found Harlow Cuadra guilty, and his appeals have since been denied by 2 state courts. I have never 'celebrated' Bryan's death, or the pain that his family must still endure. What I've read from the trial transcripts, doing juror interviews, etc... until the Supreme Court over-turns the verdict... yes, I think Harlow got what he deserved... he's a victim of his own greed and stupidity."

Harlow turns 30 Today...

Convicted murder Harlow Cuadra had a birthday today... he's now 30. Bloated and hardly a twink... Harlow Cuadra is destined to spend the rest of his life in prison (x2) for the brutal murder of Bryan Kocis, it's doubtful that he'll ever see another birthday in freedom.

What a shame really... it's amazing how money can ruin so many lives forever... just ask Joseph Kerekes... or Bryan's Family.

A FLURRY OF MOTIONS...

Three years ago... the long path to trial for Harlow Cuadra and Joseph Kerekes was getting underway in earnest as motions were flying fast and furious.

The District Attorney’s office started off with motions requesting an independent psychiatric evaluation of both Harlow and Joe, and a request to include Justin Hensley’s previous testimony at trial. Interesting, Hensley recently showed up asking a question on the Cobra Killer Facebook page.

Attorneys for Joe Kerekes, three years ago this month, gave every indication they were headed for trail. They made their fourth request to sanction prosecutors, requested to move the trial out of Luzerne County, and to have a separate trial from Harlow Cuadra.

Team Kerekes also sought to prevent prosecutors from using any statements Joe made to coppers down in Virginia Beach upon his arrest on murder charges. They also sought to block the contents of any conversations reharcorded at a San Diego, California beach, and the contents of any evidence seized from Kerekes’ e-mail account and Virginia home. They also wanted evidence of any prior criminal history for Joe shieled from jurors.

As we now know, Team Kerekes went 0 for 7 on all seven motions filed.

It was all an exercise in motion writing anyway – Kerekes taking a guilty plea and avoiding a trial.

Harlow Cuadra’s attorneys also kept the typists and courthouse recorders busy filing separate motions to move any trial out of Luzerne County or to have an outside jury brought in because of pre-trial publicity, and to separate his case from Kerekes. Cuadra’s lawyers also sought to block photographs of the victim, Bryan Kocis, kept from the view of the jury because they could be inflammatory.

Like Kerekes, Cuadra sought to block prosecutors from using any statements Cuadra made to police because he was questioned while in custody but never informed of his rights. Moreover, they attempted to block recorded conversations of Cuadra at the beach kept out of trial because the interception violated the law and Cuadra’s rights. Finally, they attempted to block presentation of evidence seized from Cuadra’s Virginia residence and e-mail account kept out of trial because it was obtained with invalid warrants.

Cuadra won a partial victory on one count – victim photographs were limited – but suffered a devastating loss with not only the admission of transcripts from the beach where Cuadra made incriminating statements, but also transcripts of the same.

A technical motion from Cuadra to have all the charges against him thrown out because prosecutors failed to present sufficient evidence at a preliminary hearing was wishful thinking from the start – and was promptly tossed.

So who's on First?

While other websites have taken my work and used it for their own good or ill, let's not forget the fact that I was the first to post the infamous Blacks Beach and Crab Catcher Transcripts, Harlow Cuadra and Joseph Kerekes' Financial Issues, pre/post Court Filings, Harlow and Joe's recent prison pics... and the list goes on... so what's next? You'll see soon! :)

I guarantee you it'll be another "first"... and sadly once again... I'm sure a few sites will take credit for something they never did. Imitation is the most serious form of flattery and I thank you... even though you won't take the time to thank me. Fact is... if it weren't for me and my blog(s), you probably wouldn't have the information in the first place.

- PC

Pennsylvania: Love It, as You’ll Never Leave It...

A lot can happen in just four years – in fact, it was four years ago this month that Harlow Cuadra and Joseph Kerekes got their marching orders to take their very last steps outside the Commonwealth of Virginia. On June 27, 2007, as reported on PC’s original trial blog, an extradition order was approved by then-Virginia Gov. Tim Kane (D) to ship Harlow and Joe from the custody of Virginia, to their counterparts in Pennsylvania. Since their arrival to Pennsylvania on July 27, 2007 – Harlow and Joe have never left... and they never likely will.

We're now on Facebook!

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Cobra-Killer/144473172292011

Cuadra Loses Again...

The Pennsylvania Supreme Court has denied convicted murder Harlow Cuadra's appeal:

"AND NOW, this 3rd day of May, 2011, the Petition for Allowance of Appeal is DENIED."

Cuadra sought an appeal with the Pennsylvania Supreme Court, stating then-Judge Peter Paul Olszewski Jr., made mistakes in rulings before and during the two-week trial in March 2009.

I'll try to have more shortly. Meanwhile, more about Harlow's failed appeal(s) can be found HERE.

Update @ 05/04/2011: Nothing more to add... the Pennsylvania Supreme Court does not issue a written opinion when they refuse to hear a case.

What's Old is New...

Feel free to re-visit the original blog:

Harlow & Joe on Trial

Happy Easter! Quick Update...

Currently working on book cover designs... doing author photos shortly.

We're Done... Book Deal Completed...

Magnus Books to publish a nonfiction work tentatively entitled "Cobra Killer":

Cobra Killer presses the “play ” button to uncover the real world of online pornography--an industry that generates billions in revenue and makes ordinary people overnight-stars and millionaires.

For the first time, authors Conway and Stoner tell in full detail the twisted story of a pair of young, aspiring gay adult film producers whose quest for fame at any cost leads to the gruesome murder of the man who stands in their way, gay porn entrepreneur Bryan Kocis. News of the killing of the 44-year-old (stabbed 28 times, his throat slashed to near decapitation of his head) in his suburban home sends shock waves through the bucolic Pennsylvania town. Neighbors are horrified to hear about the murder but equally astonished to learn that Kocis ran a small but thriving online porn operation from his home, sometimes employing underage young men as models.

The murder investigation leads police and prosecutors to the far reaches of the country, from Virginia to New York City, to Las Vegas, and to a nude beach in San Diego where investigators facilitate an incredible clandestine suspect surveillance. The manhunt nets a former U.S. Navy veteran and a former Marine, turned male models, turned hustlers, turned porn producers, who ultimately land at the bottom of a delusional conspiracy. Twenty-six-year-old Harlow Cuadra and his 35-year-old partner and lover Joseph Kerekes are implicated and eventually convicted in the brutal January 2007 murder of Kocis. Their motive? An ill-conceived attempt to lure a rising gay porn star named Brent Corrigan away from the grips of Kocis and into their crumbling, self-built porn empire.

Cobra Killer takes readers into the sometimes alluring, sometimes dangerous and often surprising world of gay porn and the deceit, schemes, and ultimate betrayals lying underneath the fantasy.

---

Publishing dates, price, etc... will be announced shortly. If you thought the original blog was good... just wait until you read the book!

PC

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!