Dallas DA Seeks Death Penalty Against Serial Killer Suspect Billy Chemirmir

Dallas County prosecutors will seek the death penalty against Billy Chemirmir, a capital murder suspect accused of smothering more than a dozen elderly women in North Texas senior living complexes.District Attorney John Creuzot’s office filed paperwork Wednesday seeking capital punishment in the suspected serial killer’s case, according to Dallas County court records.Capital murder in Texas carries an automatic sentence of either life in prison without parole or the death penalty. It is rare for prosecutors to seek the death penalty in such cases unless the crime is especially heinous.Chemirmir is accused of posing as a maintenance worker to gain access to the apartments of women in Dallas and Collin counties. Police say he then smothered the women with a pillow before stealing their jewelry to sell online or pawn.Many of those deaths were initially listed as natural causes. It is difficult to tell if someone was smothered unless there is other suspicion of foul play. After Chemirmir was arrested in March 2018, however, police began looking at older deaths to identify potential victims.Chemirmir has denied requests for interviews, but his lawyer has said he maintains his innocence.His attorney was not immediately available for comment Wednesday.Chemirmir is being held in the Dallas County Jail with bail set at $11.6 million. A Kenyan immigrant, he also has an Immigration and Customs Enforcement hold, as he is in the country illegally.The district attorney’s office has specifically filed paperwork to seek the death penalty in the case of Lu Thi Harris, a Dallas woman who was found dead in her home after Chemirmir was arrested on an outstanding warrant.  Continue reading...