New details revealed in murder of Baltimore tech CEO Pava LaPere

LaPere, originally from Arizona, stayed in Baltimore after graduating from Johns Hopkins University in 2019 with a degree in arts and sociology. She launched her startup, a custom platform builder for companies, from her dorm and went on to build it from the ground up.

Earlier this year, LaPere was featured on Forbes’ “30 under 30” list for her social impact on the industry. EcoMaps Technologies, which currently has a team of nearly 30 employees, has raised $5m and boasts big-name clients including Meta and the T.Rowe Price Foundation.

“She had this knack for finding what was messing with us and wanting opportunities for everyone,” Karina Mandell told The Independent about he rslain friend. “No matter where you came from, no matter what college you went to, to make sure that you knew the opportunities that were available to you and to democratize that access for everybody.”

The convicted sex offender wanted on suspicion of the murder of a “30 Under 30” tech executive has been arrested after two days on the run, according to multiple reports.

Sources confirmed to local outlets CBS Baltimore and Fox45News that Jason Billingsley, 32, was taken into custody on Wednesday night in connection to the brutal murder of Pava LaPere.

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Billingsley was previously arrested in 2009, 2011 and 2013 on multiple charges including sex offences, second-degree assault and robbery.

He pleaded guilty to first-degree assault in 2009 and was given two years of supervised probation. He violated the terms of his parole and was convicted of second-degree assault in 2011, court records show.

Billingsley served two years over the 2011 conviction and just months after being released in 2013, he was arrested again on attempted rape charges

In 2015, Mr Billingsley was sentenced to 30 years in prison, with 16 years suspended and five years of supervised probation, after he pleaded guilty to a first-degree sex offence. He was released from prison last October on “good-time” credits, the Baltimore Banner reported.

According to the Maryland Department of Legislative Services, inmates convicted of a violent crime are awarded good conduct credits at the rate of five days per month served.

Jason Dean Billingsley was taken into custody at around 11pm last night. US Marshalls, Baltimore police and several other agencies participated in the arrest.

“I know this arrest doesn’t take away Pava Lapere,” Commissioner Worley said. “But my wish is that we can give the family and community a sense of closure. We’re going to put this repeat in jail, where it belongs.”

Mr Worley said that the 19 September incident was targeted.

Billingsley reportedly worked at the building where the attack took place and knew the victims.

Law enforcement was within 88 meters of the suspect on Tuesday but he managed to elude authorities.

There were no signs of forced entry at LaPere’s apartment and police are still trying to determine whether there was any connection between her and Billingsley.

“I had the opportunity to speak with Pava’s family last night to deliver the news of his arrest,” Mayor Brandon Scott said.

“We are going to continue to ask everyone to send their love to her family and our city and community.”

Baltimore District Attorney Ivan Bates said that two of his most experienced prosecutors will work the case.

The DA said his office intends to seek a life sentence without the possibility of parole for Billingsley.

“My hope and goal is that if this individual is found guilty in a court of law, that this individual never gets out to see the light of day again and to ever hurt the individuals of this fine city,” Mr Bates says

Commissioner Worley said that a warrant for Billingsley’s arrest was issued on 20 September after a sexual and arson attack on 19 September.

Responding to why a plea for information was not put out until LaPere’s murder, Mr Worley said: “The incident on Edmonson Avenue [on 19 September] was not a random act.

“Had it been a random act, we would have put out flyers right away saying this individual was on the loose committing random acts.

“We pretty much know why he went into that house [on 19 September]. He was familiar with the building ... I’m not going to say more because I don’t want to talk badly about victims.

“We didn’t think at that point that he was committing random acts because we know he had been out since October 2022 and he wasn’t linked to any violent incidents.

“If we would have known that he was going to go and kill someone ... the flyer would have come out after we got the arrest warrant on September 20.”

Baltimore police have revealed that the body of slain tech CEO Pava LaPere went undiscovered for three days after she was murdered.

Jason Dean Billingsley, 32, was taken into custody at around 11pm last night in connection with the murder of LaPere, the founder and CEO of EcoMap Technologies. US Marshalls, Baltimore police and several other agencies participated in the arrest, authorities said at a press conference on Thursday.

“But my wish is that we can give the family and community a sense of closure. We’re going to put this repeat in jail, where it belongs,” Acting Police Commissioner Richard Worley said.

Mr Richard said that LaPere was likely murdered on Friday night, and her body was only discovered on Monday.