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Billy Chemirmir

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Billy Chemirmir
Chemirmir's mugshot
Born
Billy Kipkorir Chemirmir

(1972-12-08)December 8, 1972
Eldama Ravine, Rift Valley Province, 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)Capital 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 murderer and suspected serial killer accused of the murders of at least 18 elderly women in Dallas, Texas, United States, and its surrounding suburbs.[2] Chemirmir was indicted for 22 murders[3] and convicted of two. Civil suits were also filed accusing him of two other similar murders.[4] In September 2023, Chemirmir was killed in prison.[5]

Biography

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Billy Kipkorir Chemirmir was born in Kabonyony village, a suburb of Eldama Ravine, as one of 29 children. His father, Joel Chemirmir, was a long-serving village chief and prosperous farmer, and his mother was the second of Joel's three wives.[6][7][8] He was trained as a caregiver and in 2003, he emigrated to the United States permanently with a green card.[9] Chemirmir worked as a car salesman and freelanced for numerous caregiving agencies co-owned by his family across North Texas.[9][10] In 2004, he married a woman in Denton County, but the couple divorced in October 2006, as his then-wife complained that Chemirmir left her and could not be found through his family or employers.[11]

Prior criminal record

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Chemirmir had convictions for driving under the influence in Addison and Dallas in 2010 and 2011, receiving fines and short custodial sentences.[2] In July 2012, Chemirmir was arrested for assault on a female companion. He had repeatedly kicked and punched her as well as beaten her with a pot and later stabbed a knife into a chair. He received a 70-day jail sentence after pleading no contest. In 2016, Chemirmir was twice caught trespassing at Edgemere Retirement Community, both times giving the name Benjamin Koitaba. During the second arrest in July 2016, he provided identification for both his real name and the Koitaba alias. Chemirmir again pled no contest and received a 70-day sentence, being released after serving 12 days for good behavior. Police later considered three deaths at the facility as possibly linked to Chemirmir.[2][11][12]

Murders

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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.[13][3] 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. Investigators stated that Chemirmir was believed to have been motivated by robbery and that he stole some of the victims' jewelry, which he then sold online.[13][14]

Trial

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Chemirmir was arrested on March 20, 2018, after 91-year-old Mary Bartel, a resident of Preston Place Retirement Community in Plano, Texas, told police that Chemirmir had attempted to smother her with a pillow the day before, telling her "Don't fight, lie on the bed. Bartel survived the ordeal by playing dead and called the authorities after her assailant left the apartment.[15][16] Bartel and another woman were the only identified surviving victims.[17]

At his trial, Chemirmir was accused of smothering 81-year-old Lu Thi Harris to death. He was indicted on 11 additional counts of capital murder in May 2019.[18] On February 7, 2020, trial was set for April 5, 2021.[19] The trial was later delayed to November 12, 2021.[20] Chemirmir's trial began November 15, 2021.[21] On November 19, 2021, a judge declared a mistrial due to an 11–1 jury deadlock.[22][23][24] Chemirmir's retrial began April 25, 2022.[25]

On April 28, 2022, Chemirmir was convicted in the murder of Harris and was sentenced to life in prison.[26][27] Dallas County District Attorney John Creuzot told families in May 2021 that his office would not seek a death sentence for Chemirmir.[28]

On August 24, 2023, Collin County District Attorney Greg Willis announced he also would not seek the death penalty for Chemirmir.[29][30] Chemirmir's trial for the murder of 87-year-old Mary Brooks began on October 3, 2022.[31][32] On October 7, 2022, Chemirmir was convicted in the murder of Mary Brooks and was sentenced to life in prison.[33][34] After his convictions, the remaining charges against Chemirmir were dismissed, which disappointed many of his victims' families.[35][36]

Death

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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.[37][38] The alleged attacker was Wyatt Busby, who had been serving a 50-year sentence for the 2016 stabbing death of a Houston area man.[39] Prior to his death, Chemirmir had allegedly made sexual comments about his cellmate's children.[5]

References

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  1. ^ "State, Defense Rest in 3rd Murder Trial of Accused Serial Killer Billy Chemirmir". NBCDFW. Retrieved November 2, 2023.
  2. ^ a b c Ramirez Jr., Domingo; Manna, Nichole (May 17, 2019). "Dallas man accused of killing 12 elderly women maintains he's innocent, attorney says". Fort Worth Star-Telegram. Retrieved June 2, 2020.
  3. ^ a b "New indictments returned in Texas against convicted murderer". Associated Press. Retrieved June 29, 2022.
  4. ^ "Accused Serial Killer Billy Chemirmir Faces New Charge, Bringing Total Capital Murder Charges to 18". NBCDFW. Retrieved January 6, 2021.
  5. ^ a b "Suspected North Texas serial killer Billy Chemirmir's death report released". WFAA. Retrieved January 16, 2024.
  6. ^ Keoch, Florah (March 18, 2020). "Suspected serial killer held in US described as humble". Daily Nation. Retrieved June 2, 2020.
  7. ^ Chepkwony, Julius. "Kenyan nurse charged with killing 22 women gets second conviction". The Standard.
  8. ^ Shiundu, Linda; Kirich, Ben (December 12, 2020). "Billy Chemirmir: Former senior Baringo chief's son facing 17 murder charges in US". Tuko. Archived from the original on December 12, 2020.
  9. ^ a b "Man charged in 18 Texas deaths says he's "not a killer"". AP News. 2022-03-06.
  10. ^ "'I am not a killer': In interview, Billy Chemirmir says he'll be acquitted in 18 N. Texas murders". Dallas News. 2022-03-06.
  11. ^ a b "Who was Billy Chemirmir, man accused of killing women in North Texas senior-living homes?". Dallas News. 2023-09-19.
  12. ^ "Chief: 'This is terribly disturbing'; murder suspect targeted elderly women". March 23, 2018.
  13. ^ a b Scudder, Charles (February 25, 2020). "Billy Chemirmir faces capital murder counts in deaths of two more elderly women; total indictments at 14". Dallas Morning News. Retrieved June 2, 2020.
  14. ^ Staff. "Police: Murder suspect may be linked to more elderly deaths in North Texas". Fox5 Atlanta. Retrieved June 2, 2020.
  15. ^ Butterfield, Michelle (September 20, 2023). "Billy Chemirmir, accused of murdering 22 women, killed by cellmate in jail - National | Globalnews.ca". Global News.
  16. ^ "Billy Chemirmir, Accused in 22 Killings, Handed 2nd Conviction in Dallas". NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth. 2022-10-07.
  17. ^ "Jury In Billy Chemirmir Murder Trial Sees Video Testimony From Victim Who Didn't Survive To See Him In Court - CBS Texas". CBS News. 2021-11-15.
  18. ^ 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.
  19. ^ 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.
  20. ^ "Trial Date Set For Accused Serial Killer Billy Chemirmir". NBCDFW. Archived from the original on 2021-07-16. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
  21. ^ "Trial begins for man charged with killing 18 in Texas". AP NEWS. Retrieved November 15, 2021.
  22. ^ "Mistrial declared in case of man charged in 18 Texas deaths". AP NEWS. Retrieved November 20, 2021.
  23. ^ "Judge Declares Mistrial In Billy Chemirmir Capital Murder Trial After Jury Fails To Reach Verdict". CBS DFW. Retrieved November 20, 2021.
  24. ^ "Chemirmir Jurors 'Hopelessly Deadlocked,' Judge Declares Mistrial in Capital Murder Case". NBCDFW. Retrieved November 20, 2021.
  25. ^ "Retrial of Accused Serial Killer Billy Chemirmir Begins After Juror Delay". NBCDFW. Retrieved April 25, 2022.
  26. ^ "Man charged with killing 18 in Texas convicted of 1 murder". AP NEWS. Retrieved April 28, 2022.
  27. ^ "Accused Serial Killer Billy Chemirmir Found Guilty of Capital Murder in Lu Thi Harris' Death". NBCDFW. Retrieved April 28, 2022.
  28. ^ 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.
  29. ^ "Texas prosecutor says he will not seek death penalty for man in slayings of 2 elderly women". AP NEWS. Retrieved August 25, 2023.
  30. ^ "Collin County DA not pursuing the death penalty in Billy Chemirmir cases". NBCDFW. Retrieved August 25, 2023.
  31. ^ Stengle, Jamie (October 2, 2022). "Man accused of killing 22 older women goes on trial again". KWTX-TV. Retrieved October 2, 2022.
  32. ^ Tate, Amethyst (October 3, 2022). "Man Accused of Killing 22 Elderly Texans to Stand Trial in Dallas for Murder". MSN. Retrieved October 3, 2022.
  33. ^ "Billy Chemirmir, Accused in 22 Killings, Handed 2nd Conviction in Dallas". NBCDFW. Retrieved October 7, 2022.
  34. ^ "Man charged with killing 22 Texas women gets 2nd conviction". AP NEWS. Retrieved October 7, 2022.
  35. ^ "How the Children of Elderly Murder Victims United to Help an Entire Community". November 14, 2022.
  36. ^ "Families Seek Recognition for Alleged Billy Chemirmir Murder Victims Whose Cases Were Dismissed". Retrieved September 25, 2023.
  37. ^ "Convicted murderer Billy Chemirmir killed by cellmate in Texas prison: TDCJ". NBCDFW. Retrieved September 19, 2023.
  38. ^ "Convicted murderer Billy Chemirmir killed in prison, officials say". CBS Texas. Retrieved September 19, 2023.
  39. ^ 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.
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