Baltimore, Maryland – A Baltimore woman is taking legal action against Jason Billingsley, who was charged with assaulting her and later killing tech CEO Pava LaPere. April Hurley was a victim of a horrific attack in her West Baltimore home, where she was bound, sexually assaulted, had her throat slashed, and set on fire along with another individual. Fortunately, both survived thanks to their neighbors pulling them from a basement window.
After the incident, an arrest warrant was issued for Billingsley, who allegedly attacked Hurley and another man before torturing them. Tragically, six days later, Pava LaPere was found beaten to death at her Mount Vernon apartment building. Following a manhunt, Billingsley was apprehended in Bowie and identified as a suspect in the CEO’s murder.
Hurley has filed a lawsuit against Billingsley, Eden’s Homes, the property management company, and Property Pals, the property’s owner, seeking compensatory damages. Her attorney, William “Billy” Murphy Jr., cited negligent hiring, premises liability, and breach of lease in the complaint against the companies. Hurley publicly condemned the companies in a press conference, visibly emotional as she expressed her disbelief at surviving the ordeal.
Billingsley, a convicted felon and registered sex offender, was released in 2022 on parole. Despite pleading guilty to sexual assault in 2015, he only served seven years of a 30-year sentence due to diminution credits. Hurley’s attorney emphasized that a proper background check could have prevented the harrowing acts inflicted by Billingsley on the residents of Baltimore City.
Additionally, the lack of immediate public alert by the Baltimore Police Department following Hurley’s assault raised questions about the handling of the case compared to LaPere’s murder. The police commissioner defended the decision, stating it was not categorized as a random attack due to the perpetrator having access to the property. Meanwhile, Hurley’s attorney challenged the police’s response, questioning whether earlier notification could have prevented LaPere’s tragic death.
Efforts to pass the Pava Marie LaPere Act, aimed at eliminating diminution credits for violent offenders, were unsuccessful in the 2024 legislative session. Billingsley remains in custody without bail and is scheduled for trial on August 26. The police department has since implemented new protocols for releasing suspect information publicly following these disturbing incidents.