Pava LePere murder suspect Jason Billingsley is arrested after ‘beating 26-year-old tech CEO to death on roof of his home’

THE suspect in the murder of tech CEO Pava LePere has been arrested after police warned the convict with a violent past would rape and kill again if he was not caught.

Jason Dean Billingsley was nabbed at 11:10 p.m. Wednesday in Bowie, Maryland, two days after LePere was found dead on the roof of her luxury home.

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Billingsley was reportedly tracked to a train station and captured without incident, according to the local Fox affiliate WBFF.

He was captured by the U.S. Marshals Service Capital Area Regional Fugitive Task Force along with state and local authorities.

Police are expected to release more information about his arrest on Thursday.

The 26-year-old founder of EcoMap Technologies was reported missing on Monday, leading police to find her dead and showing signs of blunt force trauma.

Police named Billingsley, 32, a Baltimore resident, as a suspect in her murder the next day.

Authorities do not believe LaPere knew Billingsley and said it appeared to be a random attack.

Billingsley has a violent criminal history that includes sexual offenses, second-degree assault and robbery.

In 2015, he pleaded guilty to a first-degree sex offense and was sentenced to 30 years in prison, but was released on parole in October 2022.

And as authorities launched a massive manhunt for him, it emerged that Billingsley was also the suspect in a rape and attempted murder that took place on September 19.

In that case, Billingsley allegedly broke into a house and handcuffed a couple and bound them with duct tape.

He allegedly raped a woman, slit her throat, then poured liquid on the couple and set them on fire, authorities familiar with the situation said Baltimore banner.

The couple was taken to hospital but survived.

A child who was home at the time of the break-in and fire was also hospitalized, according to the outlet.

Urgent warning

News of Billingsley’s arrest came just hours after his mother Scarlett asked him to surrender.

“I told him he has to turn himself in, but I really don’t think he will because he’s scared,” Scarlett told the local CBS affiliate WJZ.

Scarlett learned that her son was the prime suspect in LaPere’s murder when he saw his face plastered on television.

“I screamed,” she said.

“I cried. I can’t understand what happened that made him do something like that.”

Meanwhile, authorities said Billingsley should have already been locked up.

“He definitely shouldn’t have been out there,” Mayor Brandon Scott said.

“We are tired of talking about the same people committing the same crimes over and over again.”

Baltimore Police Commissioner Richard Worley warned the public during the search for Billingsley that “he will do anything to cause harm.”

“This person is going to kill and rape,” Worley said.

Officers from the Baltimore Police Department, Maryland State Police and the United States Marshals Service were searching for the suspect.

“Missed forever”

LaPere founded her technology company in her dorm room at Johns Hopkins University when she was just 22 years old.

She was honored on Forbes’ recent “30 Under 30” list, which recognizes 30 notable people under the age of 30.

“She was motivated, creative, hardworking and tireless in her efforts alongside her wonderful team at EcoMap Technologies,” her family said.

“Pava made an impact in every endeavor she undertook and every life she touched. We will forever miss her as a daughter, sister, granddaughter, niece, cousin and loyal friend.”

EcoMap Technologies also posted a tribute to its late leader before holding a vigil on Wednesday.

“The circumstances surrounding Pava’s death are deeply disturbing and our deepest condolences go out to her family, friends and loved ones at this incredibly devastating time,” the company wrote.

“Pava was not only the visionary force behind EcoMap, but also a deeply compassionate and committed leader.”

The vigil for LaPere took place Wednesday evening in Baltimore, where a crowd of about 100 people gathered to remember the young woman.

“She knew what she wanted to accomplish and there was nothing that would stand in her way,” her father, Frank LaPere, told the crowd The Associated Press.

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