Man sentenced to life for killing Baltimore tech CEO Pava LaPere

A Baltimore man on Friday was sentenced to 3 life sentences after pleading responsible to the 2023 homicide of tech entrepreneur Pava LaPere, officers mentioned.

Jason Billingsley had been released from prison early after a sexual assault conviction earlier than he killed LaPere, 26, raped one other lady and tried to kill that sufferer and her male good friend. The crimes prompted modifications in state legislation.

Billingsley, 33, pleaded responsible to first-degree homicide and two counts of tried homicide and was sentenced to 3 life sentences, two of that are to be served back-to-back, the Baltimore City State’s Attorney said.

“Let me be clear: Mr. Billingsley ought to by no means see the sunshine of day once more,” State’s Legal professional Ivan J. Bates mentioned at a information convention.

Billingsley was a upkeep employee and recognized himself as such on Sept. 19 when he knocked on April Hurley’s house door. He then kicked it in and held her and her good friend at gunpoint, officers mentioned.

Billingsley restrained each, sexually assaulted Hurley and reduce her throat. Officers mentioned he poured an accelerant on them and the house and set it on hearth.

Per week later, on Sept. 25, LaPere was reported lacking by co-workers. Her body was later found on the roof of her downtown Baltimore house constructing. Surveillance video confirmed her letting Billingsley into the foyer and the 2 of them on an elevator, officers have mentioned.

Billingsley is later seen wiping his fingers on his shorts and leaving the constructing alone, in line with prosecutors.

Hurley and LaPere’s household joined the prosecutor at a Friday information convention saying the responsible pleas and life sentences.

“If it weren’t for God and my will to be alive, I wouldn’t be standing right here at present,” Hurley mentioned. She mentioned she now lives in fixed concern and finds it troublesome to be in public.

“Daily, I’ve flashbacks and triggers that trigger horrible nervousness, ache and stress,” she mentioned. “I’ll by no means be the identical particular person.”

The LaPere household mentioned that every of the 342 days since LaPere’s homicide has been painful and troublesome.

“Acceptable justice might have been served at present. However it would by no means fill the void, or erase the grief, or exchange the influence that Pava would have had, given the total life that she so deserved,” her father, Frank LaPere, mentioned. “The complete life that each harmless particular person deserves.”

LaPere was CEO and co-founder of EcoMap Applied sciences, which gives a platform that takes information and orders it to offer insights and alternatives for development.

She had been named one among Forbes’ “30 Under 30,” citing social influence.

Billingsley had been launched early from jail after he was sentenced in 2015 for first-degree sexual assault dedicated in 2013 — the sentence was 30 years, with all however 14 years suspended.

In 2022, he was released five years early, by “diminution credit,” which permit somebody to go away jail early for things like good habits. The beginning date of the sentence was 2013 when he was arrested and jailed, data present.

Maryland this yr handed the Pava Marie LaPere Act, which eliminates diminution credit for individuals convicted of first-degree intercourse offenses.

LaPere’s household mentioned there must be comparable legal guidelines that forestall first-degree intercourse offenders from getting diminution credit in different states as properly.

Billingsley was sentenced to serve two life sentences, one after the opposite. The 2 life sentences for the tried homicide are to be served concurrently, and the life sentence for the first-degree homicide rely is to be served consecutively. Billingsley additionally has parole violations, Bates mentioned.