Additional Coverage:
On August 31, a man convicted of murdering a Baltimore tech entrepreneur nearly a year ago—a crime that led to significant legal changes in Maryland—received several life sentences from a Baltimore Circuit Court judge. Jason Billingsley admitted to the first-degree murder of young tech executive Pava LaPere and was also found guilty of two counts of attempted murder related to a different case. Judge Robert Taylor handed down two concurrent life sentences and an additional consecutive life sentence for these crimes.
Billingsley also confessed to sexually assaulting April Hurley shortly before LaPere’s murder. He violently broke into Hurley’s home, attacked her and another male, nearly killing them by slashing her throat, setting the apartment on fire, and leaving them both bound and severely burnt.
LaPere’s body was later discovered on the roof of her apartment building after she was reported missing by her co-workers. She had been killed by blunt force trauma to the head with DNA evidence found on a brick near her body, pointing to a random act of violence.
At the time of his recent crimes, Billingsley had been out of prison for less than a year after being released early following a 2015 rape conviction. He was already wanted on additional charges including assault and reckless endangerment when he killed LaPere.
These events prompted significant legislative changes with the enactment of the Pava Marie LaPere Act by Maryland Governor Wes Moore. This law now prevents prisoners convicted of first-degree rape or sexual offenses from obtaining early release based on good behavior.
State’s Attorney Ivan Bates emphasized that Billingsley’s release was a mistake that led to further tragic crimes. He highlighted the influence of the cases on new legislation aimed at prioritizing victims’ needs and safety, honoring the courage of those like Hurley and the LaPere family whose testimonies during the hearings strongly supported the legislative changes.