A Baltimore man was sentenced to life behind bars for the 2023 murder of tech entrepreneur Pava LaPere, officials said.
Jason Billingsley, 33, pleaded guilty to first-degree murder and two counts of attempted murder Friday and was sentenced to three life sentences for the death of LaPere, along with the rape of April Hurley and attempted killing of Hurley and her male friend.
A career criminal, Billingsley was released from prison after a first-degree sex offense conviction before he went on a brutal rampage in Baltimore.
The cases prompted changes in the law.
“This defendant should have never been released into the community following a first-degree sex offense conviction to inflict immense trauma, pain, and sorrow on so many individuals in such a short amount of time,” said State’s Attorney Ivan J. Bates.
“These cases inspired our legislation to eliminate diminution credits for first-degree sex offenders.”
On Sept. 19, 2023, Billingsley posed as maintenance staff and knocked on the door of the apartment of Hurley and her friend in the early morning hours, Bates said.
Billingsley kicked the door in, held Hurley down, sexually assaulted her and slashed her throat, the state’s attorney said.
Billingsley poured accelerant on the couple and the apartment and set it on fire, according to Bates. They both survived.
Six days later, LaPere was reported missing before cops found her body on the roof of her Mount Vernon apartment building, along with a brick.
Surveillance footage showed the co-founder of startup EcoMap Technologies got up from the couch in the lobby at 10:32 p.m. and let Billingsley in before they made their way into the elevator together.
At 11:08 p.m., Billingsley was seen leaving the building.
The medical examiner ruled it homicide via strangulation and blunt force trauma.
LaPere was named a Forbes 30 under 30 list for social impact.
She started her eco company from her dorm room at Johns Hopkins University.
Hurley and LaPere’s family joined Bates at a Friday news conference announcing the guilty pleas and life sentences.
“Every day, I have flashbacks and triggers that cause terrible anxiety, pain and stress,” Hurley reportedly said.
“I will never be the same person.”
“If it weren’t for God and my will to be alive, I wouldn’t be standing here today,” she said.
