Details emerge in the killing of Baltimore tech CEO Pava LaPere
On the night police say Baltimore tech CEO Pava LaPere was killed, she opened a lobby door of her apartment building for suspect Jason Billingsley before they briefly spoke and got on an elevator together, a warrant reviewed by The Associated Press said.
Billingsley, a convicted sex offender and suspect in other serious crimes, waved the 26-year-old entrepreneur over to the glass door on Sept. 22, records said. At the time, LaPere was sitting on a couch in the lobby of the downtown apartment building. Less than an hour later, surveillance footage captured Billingsley "scrambling for an exit" as he wiped his hands on his shorts and fled the building.
Police have said there’s no reason to believe LaPere knew Billingsley, who was already wanted by multiple agencies for his connection with a targeted rape, attempted murder and arson incident on Sept. 19.
LaPere's body was found partially clothed on the roof the her apartment building Monday morning by police, hours after she was reported missing, the warrant said. She died from strangulation and blunt force trauma.
The court records shed new light on the case that disturbed the Baltimore business community. LaPere, named on the Forbes' 30 under 30 list for social impact earlier this year, has been celebrated for her ambitious startups and activism.
Before her death Friday night, LaPere had attended a festival recognizing the Baltimore arts community, her friend told The Associated Press.
Billingsley, 32, was arrested Wednesday night by law enforcement, ending a large manhunt that began on Sept. 20, when the Baltimore Police Department issued a warrant for his arrest after he allegedly entered the apartment of two people in the building where he worked and attacked them.
Police said Billingsley held a woman and her boyfriend at gun point and then tied them up with duct tape before repeatedly raping the woman, according to a warrant. He is also suspected of slitting her throat before setting the couple on fire, leaving them with serious burns, police said. The couple survived.
Police officials said the department did not notify the public about Billingsley after that incident and before LaPere's death, because they had no evidence he would commit "random" acts of violence.
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