For $24.99—the average cost of a comprehensive background check—a young woman’s life might have been saved, and two others spared unimaginable trauma. That’s all it would have taken to uncover Jason Billingsley’s violent criminal record before he was given access to tenants’ homes as a maintenance worker. Instead, a tragic oversight turned deadly. This is not just a story about crime—it’s a chilling example of how failing to invest in basic screening can cost far more than money.

He should have never had access to his victims – period.

🧾 Who Was Jason Billingsley?

Jason Billingsley was not a man with a hidden past. His criminal record stretched back over a decade, filled with escalating acts of violence and sexual assault. His offenses included:

  • 2009: Convicted of first-degree assault at age 18.
  • 2011: While on probation, convicted again for second-degree assault; sentenced to two years in prison.
  • 2013: Charged with attempted rape, robbery, and false imprisonment after forcing a woman to perform sex acts at knifepoint.
  • 2015: Convicted of first-degree sexual offense, receiving a 30-year sentence, with 16 years suspended and five years of supervised probation. He was released early in October 2022 due to Maryland’s diminution credit system.

Despite this violent history and his status as a registered sex offender, Billingsley was hired as a maintenance worker for Eden’s Homes LLC and Property Pals LLC—with access to residents’ keys and living spaces.

Due to FCRA regulations, some of his past convictions may not have been reportable based on their age. However, he was a registered sex offender—information that would have revealed a first-degree sexual offense and a 30-year sentence. That alone should have raised immediate red flags about granting him unrestricted access to tenants.

🔥 The 2023 Attacks

His unchecked access to tenant homes had catastrophic consequences just months after his hiring.

  1. April Hurley and Jonte Gilmore — September 19, 2023
    Jason Billingsley approached April Hurley’s Baltimore apartment under the pretense of addressing a kitchen flood. Once inside, he raped, assaulted, and attempted to kill Hurley by slashing her throat, binding her in duct tape, and dousing her in gasoline. He also restrained and assaulted her friend, Jonte Gilmore, who was visiting at the time. Both victims were set on fire but managed to escape through a basement window. They survived the attack but suffered severe physical and emotional trauma.
  2. Pava LaPere — September 25, 2023
    Less than a week later, 26-year-old tech CEO and entrepreneur Pava LaPere, founder of EcoMap Technologies, was found dead on the rooftop of her apartment building. She had been beaten and strangled. Police later linked Billingsley to this homicide using surveillance footage and forensic evidence. His arrest came on September 27, 2023.

⚖️ The Civil Lawsuit: A Case of Negligent Hiring

In April 2024, Hurley and Gilmore filed a civil lawsuit in Baltimore City Circuit Court against:

  • Jason Billingsley
  • Eden’s Homes LLC (Property Management)
  • Property Pals LLC (Property Owner)

The lawsuit alleges that the companies failed to conduct even a basic criminal background check, which would have easily uncovered Billingsley’s violent and sexual offenses. Their hiring and supervision of Billingsley—without screening—placed tenants at foreseeable risk.

The plaintiffs are seeking compensatory and punitive damages, with initial filings requesting at least $75,000 each, in addition to legal costs. No final settlement or court judgment has been issued as of July 2025.

đź“ś Legal & Ethical Implications

This case underscores the legal risk of negligent hiring, particularly when employees are placed in positions of access or trust. A negligent hiring claim typically requires plaintiffs to prove:

  1. The employee had a known history of dangerous behavior.
  2. The employer knew or should have known about it.
  3. The employee’s role made such behavior reasonably foreseeable.
  4. The failure to screen was the proximate cause of injury.

In roles where employees are given keys, enter private residences, or interact directly with the public, background checks aren’t just a best practice—they’re a basic necessity.

🛡️ What Employers Can Learn

This tragedy offers a sobering reminder to employers across all industries:

  • Background checks save lives: A single record search would have revealed Billingsley’s convictions and disqualified him.
  • “Ban the Box” doesn’t ban due diligence: In Maryland, employers may not ask about criminal history on initial applications, but they are allowed—and expected—to perform checks later in the hiring process.  * This is a huge takeaway here!
  • Screening for access roles is essential: Maintenance staff, home health aides, delivery workers—anyone who enters homes—must be screened thoroughly.

🚨 Final Thoughts

The Jason Billingsley case is more than a news story—it is a case study in the devastating consequences of failing to vet employees with access to vulnerable populations. With at least one life lost and two others forever changed, this tragedy serves as a painful but powerful call for every employer to take background screening seriously.

Skipping a background check isn’t just a legal oversight—it’s a life-threatening gamble.

Let ProVerify™ help ease your mind – reach out today to learn more on keeping your employees compliant, and your staff and customer safe.  jkerrigan@applicationverification.com

 

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