The mother of Jason Dean Billingsley, a 32-year-old man accused of killing Pava Marie LaPere in a Baltimore apartment, is pleading with her son to surrender. LaPere, who was the CEO of EcoMap Technologies based in Baltimore, was found dead on Monday with signs of blunt-force trauma. During a press conference, officials stated that there was no known relationship between Billingsley and LaPere. Before the police arrived at the apartment, a missing person’s report had been filed.
Scarlett Billingsley, Jason’s mother, spoke to NBC News, expressing her concern for her son’s safety and urging him to turn himself in. She fears that the police might shoot him if they believe he is armed. Scarlett Billingsley also revealed that she has no knowledge of how Jason met LaPere or gained access to her apartment. However, she mentioned that he had shown her a gun on Monday and suspects that he may be attempting to sell it. Despite this, she emphasized that she would need to see evidence before determining if her son is guilty.
Scarlett Billingsley shared that she had already lost her oldest son to gun violence in 2013, making Jason her only remaining child. Jason has a lengthy criminal record dating back to 2009, according to court records. He had previously been sentenced to 30 years in prison for a 1st-degree forcible sex offense, but was released in October 2022. The release of Billingsley has raised concerns, with Mayor Brandon Scott stating that there was no justification for his freedom.
Billingsley is currently on the run, and the Baltimore Police Department has warned the public that he is “considered armed and dangerous.” Besides the murder of LaPere, he is wanted in connection to a September 19th attempted murder, arson, and rape case. Detectives are also investigating any potential connections to other cases since his release in 2022. Authorities have offered a $6,000 reward for information leading to his arrest.
During a press conference, Baltimore Acting Police Commissioner Richard Worley described Billingsley as an individual who poses a threat to others and is capable of extreme violence. He encouraged the public to remain vigilant and report any information regarding Billingsley’s whereabouts.