Baltimore police warn residents about Jason Billingsley, alleged killer that is on the loose

The man accused of killing Baltimore tech CEO Pava LaPere has an extensive criminal background dating back more than a decade. Jason Billingsley has pleaded guilty to multiple felonies, including two separate assaults and a sex offense.

The 32-year-old, who is the target of a massive manhunt, is considered armed and dangerous by Baltimore police. On Tuesday, police warned city residents to be aware of their surroundings, adding that the murder suspect "will do anything he can to cause harm." Police officials also issued a warrant for his arrest on charges of first-degree murder, assault and reckless endangerment for the alleged killing of LaPere, an entrepreneur who was celebrated for her ambitious start-ups.

LaPere was found dead at the address of her apartment from blunt-force trauma around 11:30 a.m. Monday, within hours of being reported missing, police said.

Mayor says felon 'should still be in prison'

Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott at a news conference Tuesday said Billingsley "shouldn't have been out on the streets in the first place" and that he was "extremely frustrated."

"We have to stand up here and talk about someone's life cut down short by someone who should still be in prison," he said, adding: "The conviction should be the conviction, and we have to make sure that folks are held accountable in every single way because we are tired of talking about the same people committing the same kind of crimes over and over again."

According to court records, Billingsley most recently pleaded guilty to a first-degree sex offense through force or threat in 2015 following an incident that occurred in 2013. He was sentenced to 30 years in prison, with 16 years suspended, court records said.

James Bentley, a spokesperson for the Baltimore State Attorney’s Office, said Billingsley was released early from prison in October 2022 on diminution credits, which reduce an inmate’s term of incarceration. Billingsley was also placed on the state's sex offender registry.

Officials on Tuesday said Billingsley was released last year on parole, however, Mark Vernarelli, a spokesperson for the Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services, told USA TODAY Billingsley was denied parole. Vernarelli said Billingsley was instead released on mandatory supervision, a requirement by state law.

Before the sex offense, Billingsley pleaded guilty to first-degree assault and a parole violation in December 2009, according to records filed in Baltimore City Circuit Court.

Two years later, he pleaded guilty to a charge of second-degree assault.

Community mourns LaPere, celebrates her as a 'visionary force'

LaPere is known in the Baltimore area for her start-up, EcoMap Technologies, which improves the accessibility of information by mapping it and putting it on an accessible platform. According to her LinkedIn page, the company started in 2018.

"Pava was not only the visionary force behind EcoMap but was also a deeply compassionate and dedicated leader," the company said in a statement Tuesday. "Her untiring commitment to our company, to Baltimore, to amplifying the critical work of ecosystems across the country, and to building a deeply inclusive culture as a leader, friend, and partner set a standard for leadership, and her legacy will live on through the work we continue to do."

EcoMap didn't immediately respond to a request for comment Wednesday. The company said a vigil is planned in Baltimore Wednesday evening for the slain CEO.

Karina Mandell, who works for the City of Baltimore's development corporation, said she met LaPere during a multi-college pitch competition. She remembered the slain CEO as being a person who cared for the community and resided in the same building where she worked. 

"She's absolutely driven," Mandell, 34, said. "She made the Forbes 30 Under 30 and is the type to wake up at 5 a.m. to get work done and wasn't going to wait for leadership to get on and wanted to be the change she saw in the world."

Mandell said LaPere had a passion for helping youth and other entrepreneurs. That passion led to Innov8MD's founding and was a vehicle for LaPere to connect with other college students while she was in college herself. 

She said LaPere's energy and passion for Baltimore was unmatched. 

LaPere's legacy, Mandell said, is making sure everyone has a shot at success and that people do what they can to remove any barriers for others. 

"She wanted everyone to have a shot and she created a website/platform where people could find the information and she was speaking to people in other states for that," Mandell said. "She always wanted to make sure no one got lost and could find information to succeed no matter where they came."

LaPere’s father, Frank, said in a post Tuesday that his daughter was a driven and creative inspiration for many people.

“Pava made an impact in every endeavor she undertook and on every life she touched,” he wrote. “She will be forever missed as a daughter, sister, grand-daughter, niece, cousin and loyal friend.”

Before EcoMap, LaPere founded the Baltimore-based nonprofit Innov8MD focused on helping student entrepreneurs in Maryland. Her LinkedIn profile says LaPere earned a BA from Maryland-based Johns Hopkins University in sociology and studied entrepreneurship and management.

“The Johns Hopkins community deeply mourns the tragic loss of Pava LaPere, a 2019 graduate who made Baltimore home and invested her talent in our city,” Johns Hopkins University told USA TODAY on Tuesday. “Pava was well known and loved in the Baltimore entrepreneurship community and will be profoundly missed. Our solemn thoughts are with her family in this time of grief.”

Forbes named LaPere to its 2023 30 Under 30 list for social impact. "With over $4 million raised and a team of nearly 30, the Johns Hopkins grad runs a company whose clients include The Aspen Institute, Meta, the WXR Fund, and T.Rowe Price Foundation," Forbes wrote.

LaPere said in a post on LinkedIn last month that she was "especially thrilled" about the company's growth and she thanked EcoMap customers, advisers, investors and friends.

She wrote, "Here's to the next wild year and all of those to follow."