The Baltimore Police Department has announced an arrest warrant for a suspect wanted for the murder of Pava LaPere, the 26-year-old CEO of startup EcoMap Technologies, who was found dead in a downtown Baltimore apartment Monday with signs of blunt-force trauma to her head.
Police are looking for 32-year-old Jason Dean Billingsley, Acting Police Commissioner Richard Worley said during a news conference Tuesday.
Officers responded to a call for service at an apartment complex in the 300 block of West Franklin Street at around 11:34 a.m. Monday, according to Baltimore police. Upon arriving, the officers found LaPere with severe injuries to her head. Police have not released any further information on her death.
The medical examiner’s office took possession of the body, and an examination is pending, police said.
Billingsley is wanted for first-degree murder, assault, reckless endangerment and additional charges. He should be considered armed and dangerous, police said.
“This individual will kill and he will rape. He will do anything he can to cause harm,” Worley warned.
Baltimore police said they do not believe LaPere and Billingsley knew each other.
The police did not say how they identified Billingsley as a suspect.
In a message to Billingsley, Worley urged him to turn himself in. “We will find you, so I would ask you to turn yourself in to any officer, any police station,” he said.
A startup founder with ties to Baltimore
EcoMap was founded by LaPere and Sherrod Davis while LaPere was