What happened to Pava Marie LaPere? The 26-year-old CEO of EcoMap Technologies is found dead at Baltimore apartment building. Her death and career explored.
Pava Marie LaPere, 26, was killed by blunt force trauma inside her Baltimore apartment, and her body was found by police on Monday, September 25, 2023.
Before her tragic death, she was Forbes 30 Under 30 tech CEO who launched $7million eco company.
Pava was remembered as one of the ‘brightest stars’ in Baltimore, and a ‘compassionate visionary force’ by those who knew and worked with her.
Below are everything we know about the young entrepreneur and what actually happened to her.
Who was Pava LaPere?
Pava Marie LaPere was a 26-year-old technology entrepreneur.
She was the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and founder of EcoMap Technologies. She created her company at the age of 22 while still a student and in her dorm room.
She attended Johns Hopkins University, the institution that birthed her entrepreneurial journey.
According to her LinkedIn, she was a “tech CEO who believes in hyperlocal, ecosystem-based economic development to create a more equitable future for all communities.”
Her Technical.ly bio also lists the Johns Hopkins graduate as “the founder and former board chair of Innov8MD, as well as the founder of the Johns Hopkins Technology Ventures accelerator and TCO Labs, Inc.”
Under her leadership, the Baltimore-based startup has raised a total of $7 million in funding in the last 18 months.
LaPere launched Innov8MD, a nonprofit aimed at assisting student entrepreneurs at her university, before founding her company.
Per MailyOnline, LaPere said that her workforce is 50 percent female and 50 percent comprised of people of color.
Her clients include The Aspen Institute, Meta, the WXR Fund and T.Rowe Price Foundation.
In 2023, her achievements earned her a spot on the Forbes’ 30 under 30 list, under the Social Impact Category.
LaPere was also recognized in Baltimore’s 40 Under 40 and Maryland’s 25 Under 25 lists for innovation.
Who are Pava LaPere’s parents?
The late Ecomap CEO was born to Caroline LaPere (mother) and Frank LaPere (father).
Per online images of her mom and dad, they are supportive parents who did their best make sure their daughter attained a higher height in life.
There are no further details about her parents making it hard to tell their origin, age, profession, educational background and how long they’ve been married.
Does Pava LaPere have any siblings?
Tech guru and founder, Pava LaPere was not an only child to her parents. She has a brother named Nico LaPere.
At the moment, there are no confirmed reports about the murdered CEO having a sister or any other sibling.
What happened to Pava LaPere?
Pava LaPere, 26, was found beaten to death in her Maryland apartment on Monday after police received reports of a missing person.
Her body was recovered by police shortly after a missing persons call was made for her on Monday morning. She had signs of blunt-force trauma.
The call and identity of the caller have not been released by police, and the investigation is ongoing.
EcoMap Technologies released a statement in the wake of the investigation.
“The circumstances surrounding Pava’s death are deeply distressing, and our deepest condolences are with her family, friends and loved ones during this incredibly devastating time,” the company wrote.
“Pava was not only the visionary force behind EcoMap but was also a deeply compassionate and dedicated leader.”
LaPere posted a final batch of pictures on her Instagram page two weeks before her murder showing some of her favorite moments from the last year.
“Each year I get the awesome chance to visit 20+ cities… but before I get too deep into this travel season, some shots from my favorite place with my favorite people,” she wrote.
On September 26, 2023, an arrest warrant was issued for Jason Dean Billingsley, as per a tweet sent out by reporter Mikenzie Frost. The 32-year-old with a dark past is a suspect in connection with Pava LaPere’s murder.
Mac Conwell, who knew LaPere from her college days, wrote on social media: ‘I’m literally heartbroken.
‘I’ve know Pava Marie LaPere since she was a college student with dreams of being an entrepreneur.
‘I was there when she started her company and helped her with funding and clients, and today she’s gone because of a horrific act.
‘RIP Pava, you will be missed.’
Brian Brackeen wrote: ‘Some people make their whole city better. Pava Lapere was one of those people. Baltimore lost one of its brightest stars.
‘The way I’ve seen Baltimore come together through this tragedy is incredible. It’s exactly what she would have wanted. I’ll miss her dearly.’
What have Pava LaPere’s family said about her death?
While the young CEO’s parents are yet to speak on their loss, a family member has blasted ‘senseless violence’ in tragic post.
“Our family has been affected by a senseless act of violence that took the life of our beautiful, successful, and extremely intelligent Pava,” LaPere’s relative Ashley Freeman said in a Facebook post on Tuesday.
“You think it will never be your family, friend, or even co-worker.
“The harsh reality is we live in a horrifically sick world, where some people’s only goal is to harm the innocent lives others.”
“She was on her way to changing the world, but someone took that from her,” Freeman said.
She asked the public to pray for LaPere’s parents Frank and Caroline, her brother Nico, and the rest of the family.