An “extremely dangerous” man is wanted by Baltimore police in connection with the murder of 26-year-old IT CEO Pava LaPere, who was discovered dead in an apartment building on Monday.
In light of the fact that the suspect, 32-year-old Jason Dean Billingsley, is wanted on suspicion of first-degree murder, assault, and other felonies, interim Baltimore Police Commissioner Richard Worley stated on Tuesday that Billingsley should be regarded as armed and dangerous.
Co-founder of the small business EcoMap Technologies, LaPere, went missing early on Monday, according to the authorities. A few hours later, LaPere was found with evidence of a blow to the head when police were called to an apartment building in the city, according to Worley.
The young IT executive was remembered as a creative leader who was committed to helping others around her and had been included in this year’s Forbes 30 under 30 list for social impact.
Security procedures in the building where she was discovered would have required someone to “allow the (suspect) in the building,” according to Worley.
According to Worley on Tuesday, authorities think Billingsley is still in the Baltimore region and are requesting anyone with information on him or his whereabouts to phone 911 right away.
Worley warned that the suspect would kill and rape women, citing his criminal history. He will take all possible steps to damage others.
Brandon Scott, the mayor of Baltimore, described Billingsley as “extremely dangerous.”
In 2009 and 2011, respectively, Billingsley entered guilty pleas to assault charges of the first and second degrees. According to the records, he also admitted guilt to a first-degree sex crime in 2015 and was given a 30-year prison term with 16 months already spent.
In October 2022, Billingsley was freed from prison. According to a representative for the Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services, Billingsley was released “on mandatory supervision as required by statute,” not parole, according to The New York Times.
Billingsley has been listed in Maryland’s database as a sex offender since his release from jail.
Billingsley is a suspect in at least one other case, according to Baltimore’s police commissioner, who would not provide further details.