According to the Daily Mail on Wednesday, September 27, 2023, the lifeless body of Pava LaPere, the 26-year-old co-founder of EcoMap Technologies, was discovered in a grisly state on the rooftop of her upscale Mount Vernon apartment building.
The brutal incident has prompted an urgent citywide manhunt for the prime suspect, Jason Billingsley, 32, described by authorities as “extremely dangerous.”
LaPere, a rising star in the tech industry who had earned a spot on Forbes’ prestigious 30 under 30 list for her outstanding contributions to social impact, was reported missing on Monday.
Tragically, her life was cut short, as police later confirmed she had been subjected to a brutal assault that resulted in fatal blunt-force trauma to her head.
Jason Billingsley, the primary suspect in this crime, is now wanted on multiple charges, including first-degree murder, reckless endangerment, and assault, among others.
Billingsley, a man with a history of violence, had previously pleaded guilty to first-degree assault in 2009 and second-degree assault in 2011, according to court records.
In 2015, he faced a first-degree sex offense charge and was sentenced to 30 years in prison.
However, he was released from incarceration after serving only seven years due to “good-time credits.”
Acting Police Commissioner Richard Worley issued a chilling warning to the public, saying, “This individual will kill and he will rape. He will do anything he can to cause harm.”
Worley cited Billingsley’s extensive criminal record, highlighting the severity of the threat he poses to the community.
The circumstances surrounding LaPere’s discovery on the rooftop of her apartment building have raised disturbing questions.
It is suspected that the assailant may have accessed the rooftop from the seventh floor, possibly while LaPere was still alive.
This suggests a chilling sequence of events leading up to her tragic demise.
Mayor Brandon Scott described Billingsley as “extremely dangerous” and urged him to surrender, saying, “Every single police officer in Baltimore City, the state of Maryland, as well as the US Marshals are looking for you. We will find you.”
The urgent manhunt has put the city on high alert as authorities work tirelessly to bring the suspect to justice.
Pava LaPere had been residing in the former Congress Hotel, which had been transformed into luxury apartments.
Her untimely death has left her family, friends, and the entire tech community in mourning.
As the investigation unfolds and the manhunt continues, the city remains on edge, hoping for swift justice to be served in this shocking and tragic case.
