BALTIMORE, MD - On Monday, September 25th founder and CEO of the tech company EcoMap was reportedly found dead in her apartment building.
According to authorities, 26-year-old Pava LaPere was found beaten to death and at the time of the initial investigation, the Baltimore Police Department (BPD) had not released many details other than they recieved a call for a missing person.
The suspect had previously been sentenced to serve a 30-year sentence in prison in 2015.
The thing is, he was released in 2022 thanks to an "earned credit system" for good behavior.
It's a system that's become much more liberal in recent years.
"The circumstances surrounding Pava's death are deeply distressing and our deepest condolences are with her family, friends and loved ones during this incredibly devastaing time. Pava was not only the visionary force behind EcoMap, but was also a deeply compassionate and dedicated leader."
The company is located on the main floor of the building in which she lived upstairs. The location is on the 300 block of West Franklin Street in the Bromo Arts District of Baltimore.
A few days later, BPD announced the arrest of the man accused of murdering the tech CEO. Jason Billingsley, 32, was arrested at the MARC train station in Bowie; he was taken into custody without incident.
Billingsley is facing dozens of charges related to three cases, including LaPere's violent murder. According to authorities, he has been charged with first degree murder, first and second degree assault, reckless endangerment and a weapons charge.
Charging documents state that LaPere was murdered on Friday, September 22nd, but was not found until three days later after the call about a missing person and a co-working finding her body on the roof of the apartment building.
Investigators stated that they viewed surveillance video from Friday, September 22nd, and it showed a black man, since identified as Billingsley, knocking at the door of LaPere's apartment building. He apparently waved at LaPere, who was in the lobby at the time.
Charging documents say that LaPere let Billingsley into the building, as they entered an elevator together. Nearly 30-minutes later, Billingsley was seen leaving the stairwell into the lobby of the builidng and "scrambling for an exit."
Surveillance footage also shows him wiping his right hand on his shorts before leaving the building. Investigators said that the crime scene consisted of a brick, blood, buttons, pants, three teeth, a broken hair clip and a pair of red shoes believed to belong to LaPere near her body.
According to the medical examiner's office, LaPere was strangled and beaten. Acting Baltimore Police Commissioner Richard Worley, said during a press conference:
"We don't know if there were any previous connections between Ms. LaPere and Billingsley."
Just a few days prior to this horrific event, Billingsley had been identified as the suspect who raped a woman and attempted to kill he and another man inside a home on Edmondson Avenue in west Baltimore.
Charging documents for that case were obtained by FOX45 News. Billignsley was charged with two counts of first and second degree attempted murder, first and second degree rape, home invasion, assault, arson and other charges.
In court documents, the female victim told investigators that Billingsley identified himself as maintenance and that he "kicked in the front door, pointed a gun at her, duct tapped her and handcuffed the other victim" then "raped, slashed and set them on fire."
Billingsley is also facing gun theft charges. On September 25th, Billingsley allegedly stole a gun from the safe of a friend's home in Owings Mills. The victim told police that she allowed him to take a shower and sleep at the house, and when she returned both he and the gun were gone.
According to authorities, 26-year-old Pava LaPere was found beaten to death and at the time of the initial investigation, the Baltimore Police Department (BPD) had not released many details other than they recieved a call for a missing person.
The suspect had previously been sentenced to serve a 30-year sentence in prison in 2015.
The thing is, he was released in 2022 thanks to an "earned credit system" for good behavior.
It's a system that's become much more liberal in recent years.
Jason Billingsley, 32, was arrested in Bowie, Maryland, late Wednesday after he was named the prime suspect in 26-year-old Pava LaPere’s murder.
According to police, he fooled the EcoMap Technologies founder into letting him into her apartment by pretending he forgot his keys.
Billingsley previously pleaded guilty to first-degree assault and second-degree assault in 2009 and 2011. That was before serving time behind bars for the 2013 rape of a 25-year-old woman.
It gets worse - he had applied for parole and was refused in 2020, the Baltimore Banner first reported.
Then... he appealed the decision and was denied again. That's according to David Blumberg, the longtime chair of the state parole commission.
So how did he get out? Flash forward to October 2022. That's when he earned enough “diminution credits” to force a mandatory release after serving about nine years and three months of what had become a 14-year sentence.
"The circumstances surrounding Pava's death are deeply distressing and our deepest condolences are with her family, friends and loved ones during this incredibly devastaing time. Pava was not only the visionary force behind EcoMap, but was also a deeply compassionate and dedicated leader."
The company is located on the main floor of the building in which she lived upstairs. The location is on the 300 block of West Franklin Street in the Bromo Arts District of Baltimore.
A few days later, BPD announced the arrest of the man accused of murdering the tech CEO. Jason Billingsley, 32, was arrested at the MARC train station in Bowie; he was taken into custody without incident.
Billingsley is facing dozens of charges related to three cases, including LaPere's violent murder. According to authorities, he has been charged with first degree murder, first and second degree assault, reckless endangerment and a weapons charge.
Charging documents state that LaPere was murdered on Friday, September 22nd, but was not found until three days later after the call about a missing person and a co-working finding her body on the roof of the apartment building.
Investigators stated that they viewed surveillance video from Friday, September 22nd, and it showed a black man, since identified as Billingsley, knocking at the door of LaPere's apartment building. He apparently waved at LaPere, who was in the lobby at the time.
Charging documents say that LaPere let Billingsley into the building, as they entered an elevator together. Nearly 30-minutes later, Billingsley was seen leaving the stairwell into the lobby of the builidng and "scrambling for an exit."
Surveillance footage also shows him wiping his right hand on his shorts before leaving the building. Investigators said that the crime scene consisted of a brick, blood, buttons, pants, three teeth, a broken hair clip and a pair of red shoes believed to belong to LaPere near her body.
According to the medical examiner's office, LaPere was strangled and beaten. Acting Baltimore Police Commissioner Richard Worley, said during a press conference:
"We don't know if there were any previous connections between Ms. LaPere and Billingsley."
Just a few days prior to this horrific event, Billingsley had been identified as the suspect who raped a woman and attempted to kill he and another man inside a home on Edmondson Avenue in west Baltimore.
Charging documents for that case were obtained by FOX45 News. Billignsley was charged with two counts of first and second degree attempted murder, first and second degree rape, home invasion, assault, arson and other charges.
In court documents, the female victim told investigators that Billingsley identified himself as maintenance and that he "kicked in the front door, pointed a gun at her, duct tapped her and handcuffed the other victim" then "raped, slashed and set them on fire."
Billingsley is also facing gun theft charges. On September 25th, Billingsley allegedly stole a gun from the safe of a friend's home in Owings Mills. The victim told police that she allowed him to take a shower and sleep at the house, and when she returned both he and the gun were gone.
For corrections or revisions, click here.
The opinions reflected in this article are not necessarily the opinions of LET
Comments