Baltimore Man Gets Life in Prison For Strangling, Beating Tech CEO Found Dead on Rooftop of Her Apartment Building

Mar. 15, 2025

Photo:PavaMarie/Instagram

PavaMarie/Instagram

A Baltimore man has been sentenced to life in prison after pleading guilty to strangling and beating atech company CEOwho was found dead on the rooftop of her apartment building in September 2023.

Jason Billingsleypleaded guilty to one count of first-degree murder in connection with the death of 26-year-old Pava La Pere and two counts of attempted murder for a separate incident, the Baltimore State Attorney’s Office announced in apress releaseon Aug. 30. He was handed down three life sentences, two of which are to be served concurrently.

LaPere, who was the founder and CEO of EcoMap Technologies, was found dead on the rooftop of her apartment building on Sept. 25, 2023, prosecutors said. Coworkers had reported her missing, saying they last saw her at a festival on Sept. 22. 2023.

According to prosecutors, a medical examiner ruled LaPere’s manner of death as a homicide and her cause of death as strangulation and blunt force trauma.

Once investigators identified Billingsley as a suspect, they learned he had also been sought in connection with a rape, attempted murder, and arson incident that occurred days prior to LaPere’s killing.

Jason Billingsley.Baltimore Police/Facebook

Baltimore Police/Facebook

Prosecutors said Billingsley restrained the pair using handcuffs and tape before sexually assaulting Hurley and slashing her throat with a knife. He then set the apartment on fire. Hurley and her friend suffered second and third-degree burns and were both in serious condition when they were taken to the hospital, according to prosecutors.

“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,” State’s Attorney Ivan J. Bates said.

Pava LaPere.Pava Marie LaPere/ Instagram

Pava Marie LaPere/ Instagram

In the wake of LaPere’s death, EcoMap Technologies wrote in a statement onFacebookthat she “was not only the visionary force behind EcoMap but was also a deeply compassionate and dedicated leader.”

In 2013, LaPere was featured onForbes' 30 Under 30 list for social impact. Her clients included The Aspen Institute, Meta, the WXR Fund and T. Rowe Price Foundation,according toForbes.

“It has been 342 days since our daughter and sister, Pava Marie LaPere, was murdered. Each one of those days has been extremely painful and difficult to endure,” the LaPere family said at the sentencing, per the release.

They continued, “Pava’s death has deeply impacted our family, her friends, EcoMap Technologies, the Johns Hopkins University, the City of Baltimore, and the State of Maryland. It was right here, where she was making a significant impact on improving the lives, entities and communities which she so loved.

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“Acceptable justice may be served today, but it will never fill the void, erase the grief, or replace the impact Pava would have had if given the full life that she deserved. That ALL innocent people deserve.”

Since her killing, Maryland lawmakers passed thePava Marie LaPere Act, which prohibits diminution credits for people convicted of first-degree sex offenses.

source: people.com