Man arrested in killing of Baltimore tech entrepreneur Pava LaPere was released from prison in 2022

Baltimore police have arrested a man in the killing of a Baltimore tech entrepreneur last week as authorities alleged the suspect was in the midst of a violent rampage that also included a recent rape, arson and attempted murder. Officials announced Thursday that 32-year-old Jason Billingsley is charged with first-degree murder in the death of 26-year-old Pava LaPere. Authorities say Billingsley had been released from prison last October after serving a shortened sentence for a 2013 rape because he earned good behavior credits behind bars. He was also suspected in another rape days before LaPere’s death and police had been actively searching for him since then. LaPere founded the tech startup EcoMap Technologies and died from strangulation and blunt force trauma.