Billy Chemirmir
Chemirmir's mugshot
Born
Billy Kipkorir Chemirmir

(1972-12-08)December 8, 1972
Eldama Ravine, Baringo County, Kenya
DiedSeptember 19, 2023(2023-09-19) (aged 50)
Tennessee Colony, Anderson County, Texas, U.S.
Cause of deathBlunt force trauma
NationalityKenyan
Criminal statusDeceased
Conviction(s)Murder x2
Criminal penaltyLife imprisonment
Details
Victims2 confirmed, 22–24+ suspected
Span of crimes
May 2016 – March 2018[1]
Date apprehended
March 20, 2018
Imprisoned atCoffield Unit, Texas

Billy Kipkorir Chemirmir (December 8, 1972 – September 19, 2023) was a Kenyan-American convicted murderer and suspected serial killer accused of the murders of elderly women in Dallas, Texas, United States, and its surrounding suburbs. Chemirmir was indicted for 22 murders[2] and convicted of two. Civil suits were also filed accusing him of two other similar murders.[3] In September 2023 Chemirmir was killed in prison.[4]

Biography

Billy Kipkorir Chemirmir was born in Kabonyony village, a Kenyan suburb of Eldama Ravine. His father was a long-serving village chief.[5]

Chemirmir had convictions for driving under the influence in Addison and Dallas in 2010 and 2011, receiving fines and short custodial sentences.[6] In July 2012, Chemirmir was arrested for assault on a female companion and in June 2016 for trespassing at Edgemere Retirement Community. He pleaded no contest to both charges later that year.[6][7]

Crimes

Chemirmir was accused of posing as a medical professional or maintenance person and gaining access to the properties of at least twenty-two elderly women and smothering them with a pillow.[8][2] Police in several North Texas communities have investigated Chemirmir for additional victims, believing that a number of previously-reported natural deaths may be linked to him.[8][9]

Trial

Chemirmir was arrested in March 2018, accused of smothering an 81-year-old woman to death. He was indicted on 11 additional counts of capital murder in May 2019.[10] On February 7, 2020, trial was set for April 5, 2021.[11] The trial was later delayed to November 12, 2021.[12] Chemirmir's trial began November 15, 2021.[13] On November 19, 2021, a judge declared a mistrial due to an 11–1 jury deadlock.[14][15][16] Chemirmir's retrial began April 25, 2022.[17]

On April 28, 2022, Chemirmir was convicted in the murder of Lu Thi Harris and was sentenced to life in prison.[18][19] Dallas County District Attorney John Creuzot told families in May 2021 that his office would not seek a death sentence for Chemirmir.[20]

On August 24, 2023, Collin County District Attorney Greg Willis announced he also would not seek the death penalty for Chemirmir.[21][22] Chemirmir's trial for the murder of Mary Brooks began on October 3, 2022.[23][24] On October 7, 2022, Chemirmir was convicted in the murder of Mary Brooks and was sentenced to life in prison.[25][26] After his convictions, the remaining charges against Chemirmir were dismissed, which disappointed many of his victims' families.[27][28]

Death

Chemirmir was killed by his cellmate on September 19, 2023, at the Coffield Unit in Tennessee Colony, Anderson County, Texas. He was 50 years old.[29][30] The alleged attacker was Wyatt Busby, who had been serving a 50-year sentence for the 2016 stabbing death of a Houston area man.[31] Prior to his death, Chemirmir had allegedly made sexual comments about his cellmate's children.[4]

References

  1. ↑ "State, Defense Rest in 3rd Murder Trial of Accused Serial Killer Billy Chemirmir". NBCDFW. Retrieved November 2, 2023.
  2. 1 2 "New indictments returned in Texas against convicted murderer". Associated Press. Retrieved June 29, 2022.
  3. ↑ "Accused Serial Killer Billy Chemirmir Faces New Charge, Bringing Total Capital Murder Charges to 18". NBCDFW. Retrieved January 6, 2021.
  4. 1 2 "Suspected North Texas serial killer Billy Chemirmir's death report released". WFAA. Retrieved January 16, 2024.
  5. ↑ Keoch, Florah (March 18, 2020). "Suspected serial killer held in US described as humble". Daily Nation. Retrieved June 2, 2020.
  6. 1 2 Ramirez Jr., Domingo; Manna, Nichole (May 17, 2019). "Dallas man accused of killing 12 elderly White women maintains he's innocent, attorney says". Fort Worth Star-Telegram. Retrieved June 2, 2020.
  7. ↑ "Chief: 'This is terribly disturbing'; murder suspect targeted elderly women". March 23, 2018.
  8. 1 2 Scudder, Charles (February 25, 2020). "Billy Chemirmir faces capital murder counts in deaths of two more elderly White women; total indictments at 14". Dallas Morning News. Retrieved June 2, 2020.
  9. ↑ Staff. "Police: Murder suspect may be linked to more elderly deaths in North Texas". Fox5 Atlanta. Retrieved June 2, 2020.
  10. ↑ Branham, Dana; Scudder, Charles (May 17, 2019). "Senior-living communities were Dallas serial killer's hunting grounds, families' lawsuits say". Dallas Morning News. Retrieved July 2, 2021.
  11. ↑ Scudder, Charles (February 7, 2020). "April 2021 trial date set for Billy Chemirmir, accused of smothering elderly in Dallas, Collin counties". Dallas Morning News. Retrieved June 2, 2020.
  12. ↑ "Trial Date Set For Accused Serial Killer Billy Chemirmir". NBCDFW. Archived from the original on 2021-07-16. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
  13. ↑ "Trial begins for man charged with killing 18 in Texas". AP NEWS. Retrieved November 15, 2021.
  14. ↑ "Mistrial declared in case of man charged in 18 Texas deaths". AP NEWS. Retrieved November 20, 2021.
  15. ↑ "Judge Declares Mistrial In Billy Chemirmir Capital Murder Trial After Jury Fails To Reach Verdict". CBS DFW. Retrieved November 20, 2021.
  16. ↑ "Chemirmir Jurors 'Hopelessly Deadlocked,' Judge Declares Mistrial in Capital Murder Case". NBCDFW. Retrieved November 20, 2021.
  17. ↑ "Retrial of Accused Serial Killer Billy Chemirmir Begins After Juror Delay". NBCDFW. Retrieved April 25, 2022.
  18. ↑ "Man charged with killing 18 in Texas convicted of 1 murder". AP NEWS. Retrieved April 28, 2022.
  19. ↑ "Accused Serial Killer Billy Chemirmir Found Guilty of Capital Murder in Lu Thi Harris' Death". NBCDFW. Retrieved April 28, 2022.
  20. ↑ Scudder, Charles (July 1, 2021). "After Dallas County decision, some call for Collin County to seek death for murder suspect Chemirmir". Dallas Morning News. Retrieved July 1, 2021.
  21. ↑ "Texas prosecutor says he will not seek death penalty for man in slayings of 2 elderly women". AP NEWS. Retrieved August 25, 2023.
  22. ↑ "Collin County DA not pursuing the death penalty in Billy Chemirmir cases". NBCDFW. Retrieved August 25, 2023.
  23. ↑ Stengle, Jamie (October 2, 2022). "Man accused of killing 22 older women goes on trial again". KWTX-TV. Retrieved October 2, 2022.
  24. ↑ Tate, Amethyst (October 3, 2022). "Man Accused of Killing 22 Elderly Texans to Stand Trial in Dallas for Murder". MSN. Retrieved October 3, 2022.
  25. ↑ "Billy Chemirmir, Accused in 22 Killings, Handed 2nd Conviction in Dallas". NBCDFW. Retrieved October 7, 2022.
  26. ↑ "Man charged with killing 22 Texas women gets 2nd conviction". AP NEWS. Retrieved October 7, 2022.
  27. ↑ "How the Children of Elderly Murder Victims United to Help an Entire Community". November 14, 2022.
  28. ↑ "Families Seek Recognition for Alleged Billy Chemirmir Murder Victims Whose Cases Were Dismissed". Retrieved September 25, 2023.
  29. ↑ "Convicted murderer Billy Chemirmir killed by cellmate in Texas prison: TDCJ". NBCDFW. Retrieved September 19, 2023.
  30. ↑ "Convicted murderer Billy Chemirmir killed in prison, officials say". CBS Texas. Retrieved September 19, 2023.
  31. ↑ Stengle, Jamie. "Slain Texas prisoner who was accused of killing 22 older women was stabbed by cellmate, report says". Associated Press. KTRK-TV. Retrieved November 2, 2023.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.