Civic Leader’s Killer Pleads Guilty, Will Serve Consecutive Life Sentence

By Racquel Bazos - August 30, 2024
Attempted Murder | Court | Daily Stories | Featured | Homicides | Suspects | Victims |

“I hold myself fully accountable. I’m very remorseful,” said Jason Dean Billingsley, 33, as he pleaded guilty to the first-degree murder of 26-year-old CEO Pava LaPere in Baltimore City Circuit Court Aug. 30. 

Baltimore prosecutors, including State’s Attorney Ivan Bates, LaPere’s family, loved ones and the press filled the courtroom gallery as Judge Robert K. Taylor, Jr. imposed two concurrent life sentences for the first-degree attempted murder of a couple in court Friday, alongside an additional consecutive life sentence for LaPere’s murder. Both incidents occurred within three days of each other in late September 2023. 

LaPere’s mother admitted to struggling with daily life in the wake of her daughter’s death. LaPere had recently fallen in love and, with the success of her business Ecomap Technologies, her mother said, “This time was her time.”

“The justice system needs to be improved and so does society,” said Mrs. LaPere, a self-identified pacifist. 

Prosecutors submitted LaPere’s autopsy report and photos for the court’s consideration. According to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, LaPere died by blunt force trauma and strangulation. She suffered abrasions to her neck, face, chest and vagina, as well as having a broken nose and jaw. 

On the roof of her apartment building on the 300 block of West Franklin Street, where her body was found in “state of undress” by Baltimore Police Department officers, investigators also recovered a brick with LaPere’s blood on it. 

Surveillance footage showed Billingsley following LaPere to her building after she left Artscape on Sept. 22. She let Billingsley into her building and was seen going up the elevator with him. 

Upon his arrest, Billingsley waived his Miranda rights and confessed to committing the murder. 

A close friend of LaPere addressed Billingsley in his impact statement, saying it was a “tragic irony” that he killed someone who “selflessly dedicated herself” to making Baltimore a better place. 

In LaPere’s father’s statement, he pointed out the myriad ways his daughter’s life and legacy have been honored since her death. Her business is “still flourishing,” he said. 

Additionally, two state laws in LaPere’s name have since been passed: The Pava Marie LaPere Act, which eliminates the diminution credits which freed Billingsley shortly before this crime and  the Pava LaPere Legacy of Innovation Act, which gives college students grants to start their own businesses. Johns Hopkins University, LaPere’s alma mater, also created the Pava Marie LaPere Center for Entrepreneurship to incubate startups. 

“Her life’s work will continue,” her father said in court. He concluded telling Billingsley he could never take away his pride in his daughter or her legacy. 

Defense attorney Jason Rodriguez said his client has been remorseful from the first day they began working together. 

Judge Taylor briefly went into chambers to consider four additional written impact statements submitted by LaPere’s colleagues and friends. When he returned, he imposed the consecutive life sentences. 

In the latest press release from the Baltimore State’s Attorney’s office, Bates said: “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.”

As with all defendants convicted of violent crimes, Billingsley will be required to serve at least 50% of his sentence before being eligible for parole. In this case, he would have to serve over 40 years before becoming parole-eligible.