Police arrest suspect in murder of Baltimore Tech CEO Pava LaPere

Baltimore Police on Thursday plans to announce an arrest of a suspect in the murder Baltimore tech entrepreneur Pava laPere. The department announced this in a notice regarding a press conference.

The police did not respond immediately to comments made early on Thursday morning. The event announcement for 11 am reads: “BPD will announce the arrest of murder suspect Jason Billingsley.” Further details have not been released.

Billingsley was wanted for the first-degree murder of LaPere. LaPere is the CEO and founder at EcoMap Technologies.

LaPere, 26, remembered by colleagues as an important part of Baltimore’s small tech scene, was found dead at an apartment of apparent blunt-force injuries Monday, police have said.

Police and U.S. Marshals Service launched an investigation for Billingsley. Billingsley was also wanted by the U.S.

Billingsley’s mother was among those urging him to turn himself in. Authorities announced a reward of $6,000 and warned that he was armed and dangerous.

“This individual will kill, and he will rape,” Baltimore Police Commissioner Richard Worley has said. “He will do anything he can to cause harm.”

Billingsley is a “repeat violent offender,” Baltimore City State’s Attorney Ivan J. Bates said at a news conference while the manhunt was ongoing.

Court records indicate that he pleaded guilty in 2015 to a first degree sex crime and was sentenced to 30 years of prison with 16 years suspended. He was paroled on October.

LaPere died in a mysterious manner. Police did not release much information. Police have stated that she was reported missing, and found dead shortly after.

EcoMap Technologies, according to their website, aims to improve accessibility and efficiency in information ecosystems. The company’s products include chatbots, as well as other resources for groups and businesses.

Forbes magazine included LaPere on its “30 Under 30 list” this year. It noted that her clients include Meta Foundation and T.Rowe Price Foundation.

She is originally from Tucson, Arizona. She moved to Baltimore for Johns Hopkins University. Those who knew her say she fell in love and decided to stay.