Arrest Made in Murder of Baltimore Tech CEO Pava LaPere

A man has been arrested in connection with the murder of a tech CEO in Baltimore, Maryland. Pava LaPere, the 26-year-old founder of startup EcoMap Technologies, was reported missing on Monday and was found dead later that day. The police have detained Jason Dean Billingsley, a convicted felon, after a days-long manhunt. It is believed that LaPere was killed on Friday night, and there were no signs of forced entry into her apartment. Her body was discovered in a Baltimore apartment building with blunt-force trauma to her head. Investigators have stated that there is no evidence suggesting that LaPere knew Billingsley, who was already wanted for murder. Billingsley was apprehended by a SWAT team at a train station in Bowie, Maryland, located about 27 miles south of Baltimore. LaPere attended Johns Hopkins University, where she founded her tech company at the age of 21. She was recognized on the Forbes 30 Under 30 list this year. During a vigil held for her, LaPere's father described her as "daddy's little girl." The suspect was also wanted in another case involving attempted murder, rape, and arson that occurred in September in Baltimore. Prior to his arrest, officials had warned the public that he was armed and dangerous. Billingsley had been released from prison in October 2022 after serving nearly seven years for a first-degree sex offense, and he had been on Maryland's registered sex offender list since then. Police are currently investigating if Billingsley could be linked to any other cases since his release. The suspect's mother, Scarlett Billingsley, allegedly texted him to turn himself in because she feared for his life. She also stated that he had briefly visited her home on Monday and showed her a gun.