A week-long manhunt
The Baltimore Police Department announced on Wednesday night that they have arrested a man accused of killing Pava LaPere, a tech CEO and founder of the startup Lede AI. The suspect, Jason Billingsley, is a convicted sex offender who was on parole at the time of the murder. He was taken into custody in a hotel in Baltimore after a week-long manhunt that involved multiple law enforcement agencies and the FBI.
LaPere, 31, was reported missing by her family on September 18, after she failed to show up for a meeting with potential investors. Her body was discovered on Monday in her apartment complex in the Canton neighborhood of Baltimore. She had been stabbed multiple times and her throat was slashed. Police said there were signs of a struggle and a forced entry into her apartment.
A promising tech entrepreneur
LaPere was the CEO and founder of Lede AI, a startup that used artificial intelligence to create content for online platforms. She had launched the company in 2022 and had raised $5 million in seed funding from prominent investors. She was also a mentor and advocate for women in tech, and had been featured in several media outlets as a rising star in the industry.
According to her LinkedIn profile, LaPere had a bachelor’s degree in computer science from Johns Hopkins University and a master’s degree in business administration from Harvard Business School. She had previously worked as a software engineer at Google and Facebook before starting her own venture.
A violent criminal history
Billingsley, 39, has a long rap sheet that includes convictions for rape, assault, robbery, and burglary. He was sentenced to 25 years in prison in 2010 for raping a woman at knifepoint in Baltimore. He was released on parole in 2021 after serving 11 years of his sentence.
Police said Billingsley did not know LaPere personally, but may have targeted her randomly after seeing her online or in the media. They said he had been stalking her for several days before breaking into her apartment and killing her. They also said he had stolen some of her belongings, including her laptop and phone, which helped them track him down.
A shocking and tragic case
The murder of LaPere has shocked and saddened the tech community in Baltimore and beyond. Many of her friends, colleagues, and admirers have expressed their grief and outrage on social media, and have called for justice for her killer.
The Baltimore Police Commissioner Michael Harrison said the case was “one of the most heinous and brutal crimes” he had ever seen, and praised the efforts of the investigators who worked tirelessly to find the suspect. He said Billingsley would face multiple charges, including first-degree murder, armed robbery, and burglary. He also said he would request that Billingsley be denied bail and parole.
