Man Arrested In Killing Of Baltimore Tech Entrepreneur Pava LaPere Was Released From Prison In 2022

BALTIMORE - Baltimore police arrested a man last week in connection with the murder of a Baltimore high-tech businessman, as authorities say the suspect was at the center of a killing spree that included a recent rape, a arson and an attempted murder.

Jason Billingsley, charged with first-degree murder in the death of 26-year-old Pava Leiper, was released from prison last October after serving time for a 2013 rape because of his good behavior in prison. He was also a suspect in another rape days before Lapper's death and had been actively sought by police since then, officials said at a news conference Thursday announcing the arrest.

Police believe Lapper was murdered Friday night, but her body was not found until Monday morning when someone reported her missing. Lapper, who founded the tech startup EcoMap Technologies in his dorm room at Johns Hopkins University, died from strangulation and blunt force trauma, according to court documents.

Police said there was no reason to believe Lapper knew Billingsley.

The murder was an extremely rare random killing in a city that has made significant progress in reducing its homicide rate in recent months. In 2023, homicides in Baltimore decreased approximately 18% from the previous year.

The Lapper family thanked authorities for their "tireless efforts" during the investigation.

"We are relieved to know that he can no longer harm other innocent victims," ​​the family said in a statement Thursday. "While this does not change the fact that Baltimore has lost one of its most passionate and influential supporters, our efforts remain focused on remembering and celebrating Pavia Marie - her life, her accomplishments and her legacy."

Lapper, who earlier this year was named to Forbes' "30 Under 30" list for his social influence, was remembered Wednesday as someone who remains focused on community building and entrepreneurship to drive meaningful social change. even as its national prestige increases. .

Billingsley's arrest warrant reveals new details about Lapper's ordeal. Her partially naked body was found on the roof of her downtown Baltimore home, according to an arrest warrant.

Surveillance footage shows Leiper returning home Friday night and sitting on a couch in the lobby as Billingsley walks toward the building and waves his hand toward the glass door, police said. He opened the door and began talking to her, and they were seen entering the elevator together, according to the search warrant.

Less than an hour later, Billingsley was seen "crawling toward the exit" and wiping his hand on his shorts before leaving the apartment building, police said.

On Friday night, Lapper attended a festival celebrating Baltimore's creative community, a friend of his told The Associated Press.

Acting Baltimore Police Commissioner Richard Worley said Billingsley had been on the department's radar since investigators quickly identified him as a suspect in the Sept. 19 rape and arson. Worley said officers did not alert the public at the time because they did not believe he was committing "random" acts of violence.

“Hindsight is 20/20,” Worley added.

He said Billingsley, 32, knew the victims from a previous incident and entered their apartment posing as a building maintenance technician. That charging order says Billingsley played that role.

According to the arrest warrant, he entered the apartment, pointed a gun at a woman inside and tied her and her friend up with duct tape. He then repeatedly raped the woman and slit her throat with a knife before dousing the two victims with liquid and setting them on fire, leaving them with severe burns, police said.

In the bushes near the home, officers found a backpack and other items, including duct tape, a can of bleach, pepper spray and a lighter, according to the warrant.

Investigators are reviewing all criminal cases opened since Billingsley's release in 2022 to see if there is any connection, Worley said.

"We're going to put this man, this violent criminal, this repeat offender back in prison, where he belongs," Worley said. "Now let's all work together to keep it there."

Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott questioned why Billingsley was released from prison after being convicted of sexual assault in 2015, but said police are just one part of a larger local criminal justice system.

Rapists cannot be released early. And that's it," he said.

The victim in the case says Billingsley stabbed and strangled her during the attack, court records show.

Authorities said Billingsley pleaded guilty to first-degree sexual assault, which state guidelines call for 15 to 25 years in prison. However, as a result of the plea deal, he was sentenced to 30 years in prison, with all but 14 years suspended.

During Billingsley's trial in 2015, the judge who sentenced Billingsley asked him why he accepted a deal that did not meet state guidelines.

"Why? It's horrible," District Judge Emanuel Brown said, according to a transcript obtained by The Baltimore Banner.

The prosecutor accepted the "horrible facts" but said the victim had been through enough and was not prepared to testify in court.

Billingsley was denied parole twice, but was released after serving good time in October 2022, effectively reducing his sentence.

He was also convicted of second-degree assault in 2011 and first-degree assault in 2009.

After the Sept. 19 rape, Worley said, Baltimore police tracked Billingsley through his cell phone and social media, interviewing witnesses and locating known addresses. He said Billingsley probably watched Tuesday night's news conference and acted accordingly.

- By the way, the other day we had a press conference about the death of Miss Leiper. "We postponed this press conference because we were about 96 yards (88 meters) from capturing the suspect, but he was able to evade capture," Worley said.

The public defender's office, which previously represented Billingsley, told the AP on Tuesday that it was too early to comment on the case. The office did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment on Billingsley's behalf Thursday morning.

Baltimore County District Attorney Ivan Bates said his office would impose a sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole if a grand jury returns an indictment. He also said state lawmakers should review laws that allow some convicted rapists to get good credit.

"If this man is found guilty in court, he will never see the light of day to harm anyone in our beautiful city again," Bates said.

Baltimore Police Considering Arrest in Murder of Tech CEO Pava Lapere All Video