Baltimore, Maryland – April Hurley, a survivor of a horrific attack by Jason Billingsley, who later went on to orgotech CEO Pava LaPere, is now taking legal action against him and the property company that hired him as a maintenance worker. Hurley and another individual were bound, sexually assaulted, had their throats slashed, and set on fire on September 19, 2023 in Baltimore’s Westside. Thankfully, both managed to escape after being rescued by neighbors.
Billingsley, a convicted felon and registered sex offender, was identified by the police as the suspect in LaPere’s murder, which occurred six days after the initial attack on Hurley. Following a manhunt, Billingsley was apprehended in Bowie. Hurley, accompanied by her attorneys, spoke out against the property management companies involved in a press conference, citing negligence in their hiring practices that allowed such a harrowing ordeal to take place.
Civil rights attorney William “Billy” Murphy Jr., representing Hurley, stated that the lawsuit includes claims of negligent hiring, premises liability, and breach of lease against the companies. Hurley emotionally expressed how her life was almost taken by Billingsley, emphasizing that the tragedy could have been prevented if proper background checks had been conducted before his employment.
In a separate incident, tech CEO Pava LaPere was found beaten to death in her Mount Vernon apartment building. Despite efforts by LaPere’s parents to advocate for legislative measures to prevent similar tragedies, no new laws were passed in the 2024 session. Billingsley, held without bail, is scheduled for trial on August 26.
Hurley’s attorney, Murphy, raised concerns about the police response to the incidents, questioning why there was a delay in public notification of the crimes and why the cases of Hurley and LaPere were handled differently. Baltimore Police Commissioner Richard Worley defended the department’s actions, citing that the attack was not considered random due to Billingsley’s previous access to the residence.
Efforts to improve public safety protocols following these events were mentioned in a statement from the Baltimore Police Department, indicating a renewed commitment to timely and transparent dissemination of suspect information. The tragic events have sparked debates about the need for stricter hiring practices and improved communication between law enforcement and the public to prevent similar tragedies in the future.