Maryland police said a man who was arrested on Wednesday, two days after allegedly murdering a tech CEO at her Maryland home, randomly targeted the victim.
Deputy U.S. Marshal Albert Maresca Jr. told WBAL that Jason Billingsley was arrested at a train station in Prince George’s County. Baltimore Police Commissioner Richard Worley said on Thursday that they tracked his phone activity, social media activity, financial transactions, and jail phone calls to locate him.
“As soon as the news conference happened the other day, he basically left the location where he was at. We did a search warrant at one location he had just left because he saw the news conference,” he said.
EcoLabs Technologies founder Pava LaPere, 29, was found dead with blunt-force trauma at her Baltimore apartment on Monday, as CrimeOnline previously reported.
According to WBAL, Worley also revealed that Billingsley is also wanted in connection with a September 19 attempted murder, arson, and rape. Worley claimed that their investigation into LaPere’s slaying linked him to both crimes.
Police are reportedly investigating other crimes dating back to October 2022 to determine whether Billingsley had any involvement.
Billingsley was released from prison in October 2022, after serving roughly 14 years for strangling and raping a woman at knifepoint a decade before LaPere’s slaying. In that case, Billingsley targeted a woman who was sitting outside following an argument with her boyfriend.
Billingsley reportedly offered the victim a place to stay before putting his hands around her neck, striking her in the face, and threatening to shoot her if she did not acquiesce to his demands. He subsequently stole $53 dollars from her wallet after forcing her to perform oral sex on him.
Billingsley received a 30-year sentence for first-degree rape, false imprisonment, and assault. Though his initial release date was for 2043, 16 years of his sentence was suspended and it was further reduced for good behavior — leading to his release last October.
Billingsley has a lengthy criminal history which also includes arrests for assault in 2009 and 2011.
A motive in LePere’s murder remains unclear. Worley said there was no sign of forced entry to her apartment, which is located in a secured building. He said they still do not know of any connection between the slain woman and Billingsley.
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[Featured image: Pava LaPere/EcoLab Technologies]]
