Baltimore, Maryland – A Baltimore woman is taking legal action against the man who brutally assaulted her and later killed a tech CEO, as well as the property company that employed him. April Hurley survived a horrific attack in September 2023, in which she was bound, sexually assaulted, had her throat slashed, and was set on fire in her West Baltimore home. Despite the ordeal, Hurley and another man managed to escape through a basement window with the help of neighbors.
The suspect, Jason Billingsley, was arrested the following day, with Hurley recounting the harrowing details of the assault to the police. Days later, Pava LaPere, CEO of tech company EcoMap, was found beaten to death in her Mount Vernon apartment building. Billingsley was identified as a suspect in the high-profile killing after a manhunt led to his capture in Bowie.
Hurley, represented by civil rights attorney William “Billy” Murphy Jr., is now suing Billingsley, the property management company Eden’s Homes, and Property Pals for compensatory damages. The lawsuit includes claims of negligent hiring, premises liability, and breach of lease. Hurley, with visible scars on her neck, emotionally condemned the companies during a press conference.
Billingsley, a convicted felon and registered sex offender, was released on parole in 2022. Despite a prior conviction on sexual assault charges in 2015, he was released early due to earned credits. Hurley’s attorney criticized the lack of a thorough background check that could have prevented the tragic events.
The families of both Hurley and LaPere have been advocating for legislative changes in light of these incidents. Although efforts to pass the Pava Marie LaPere Act, which would eliminate diminution credits for certain violent crimes, were unsuccessful in the 2024 legislative session. Billingsley remains in custody without bail and is set to stand trial on August 26.
Questions have been raised about the police response to Hurley’s assault and LaPere’s murder. Hurley’s attorney questioned the delay in public notification of the crimes and why the cases were treated differently. The Baltimore Police Department defended their actions, stating that the incidents were not considered random attacks and did not warrant immediate public alerts. Following these incidents, the department implemented new protocols for releasing suspect information to the public.