Baltimore police have issued an arrest warrant for “a repeat violent offender” suspected in the murder of a beloved Forbes “30 Under 30” tech CEO who was found beaten to death in her apartment building.
Pava Marie LaPere, 26, was killed by blunt force trauma in her luxury apartment in Mount Vernon, Baltimore, and her body was found by police on Monday.
Jason Deans Billingsley, 32, of Baltimore, is wanted on first-degree murder, assault, reckless endangerment and additional charges. Police do not believe LaPere knew him.
He was convicted in 2011 ‘for a violent crime’, including attempted rape, and received a 30-year prison sentence. He was released on parole in October 2022.
Billingsley was described as “a repeat violent offender” and a suspect in at least one other case.
“He will kill and he will rape,” Police Commissioner Richard Worley said at a news conference Tuesday afternoon.
Billingsley is “armed and dangerous” and locals must remain alert, Worley said.
“To Jason Billingsley: I hope you’re watching,” he added.
“Every police officer in Baltimore and the state of Maryland is looking for you. We will find you, and we will prosecute you to the full extent of the law. So please turn yourself in.”
Pava Marie LaPere, 26 (left), was killed by blunt force trauma in her luxury apartment in Mount Vernon, Baltimore, and her body was found by police on Monday. On Tuesday, police announced they have issued an arrest warrant for Jason Deans Billingsley, 32, of Baltimore (right)
Baltimore Police Commissioner Richard Worley announced the suspect’s name and vowed to find him and bring him to justice
Worley said a special task force worked with the U.S. Marshalls to capture Billingsley.
“We are asking anyone who has seen or knows him, or knows where he is, to contact police immediately,” Worley said.
‘We warn residents to always pay attention to your surroundings. This person will kill and he will rape. He will do anything to cause damage.’
Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott said it was “difficult to express the sadness” over LaPere’s killing, calling it “horrific, senseless and tragic.”
He said he knew LaPere, and said she would “help anyone she could see.”
Scott vowed that Baltimore “will not rest until we have him in custody,” adding that he “shouldn’t have been out on the streets in the first place.”
Scott said he was ‘extremely frustrated’ that Billingsley was free to attack again.
“We need to make sure that other parts of the system understand that these cases will affect people for an eternity,” he said.
“Pava’s family will have to deal with the trauma and tragedy of their loss for the rest of their lives.
“The police go out and do their job, like they did in this case, and then the prosecutor goes out, does their job and hands down the conviction – the conviction has to be the conviction.
“We’re tired of talking about the same people committing the same crimes over and over again.”
Scott urged reporters to look at “who made the decision to release this person on parole based on the facts of this case.” Since there was no way, he should have been on the street.’
Baltimore police on Tuesday announced the identity of the man wanted in LaPere’s murder
Officers arrived at her apartment complex in the 300 block of West Franklin Street around 11:34 a.m. Monday. LaPere lived in the building, the former site of the Congress Hotel, where one-bedroom apartments rent for $1,500 a month
LaPere was expected to speak at an industry forum in Pennsylvania on October 2, and EcoMap Technologies announced the event yesterday – after she was found dead
LaPere, a graduate of John Hopkins University, lived and worked in the same building where she was found murdered, according to public records.
Officers arrived at her apartment complex in the 300 block of West Franklin Street around 11:34 a.m. Monday.
Upon arrival, they found LaPere dead. She showed signs of blunt force trauma and detectives launched a murder investigation, police confirmed.
Worley said it was “a secure building” but would not comment on where she was found, only confirming it was “at that address.”
A neighbor who lives across the hall from LaPere said she woke up to police knocking on LaPere’s door. There was no response, she told local news.
The medical examiner’s office has taken possession of the body and an investigation is underway.
LaPere, who attended John Hopkins University, was named to Forbes’ prestigious 30 Under 30 list this year for her impact work
The tech CEO (center) is pictured with her parents, Caroline and Frank LaPere
According to investigators, a missing persons call was made for her shortly before her dead body was discovered. Because the investigation is still ongoing, they will not say who made the call.
LaPere, who attended John Hopkins University before founding the company, was named to Forbes’ prestigious “30 Under 30” list this year for her impact work.
She is co-founder and CEO of EcoMap Technologies, which she launched at the age of 22 in her college dorm room.
In addition to her recognition by Forbes, she was named to Baltimore’s “40 Under 40” and Maryland’s “25 Under 25” lists for innovation.
LaPere was remembered as one of the “brightest stars” in Baltimore, and a “compassionate visionary force” by those who knew and worked with her.