Kriti Mehrotra
As a documentary series living up to its title in every way conceivable, Paramount+’s Randy Ferrell-directed ‘Pillowcase Murders’ can only be described as equal parts baffling and haunting. That’s because it delves into how alleged serial killer as well as sociopath Billy Kipkorir Chemirmir left a trail of pure devastation in his wake over several years without anyone even realizing it. After all, he preyed upon the often forgotten and overlooked elderly individuals residing in high-end retirement communities for their belongings before pawning them off the very same day.
Billy Chemirmir Was Kenyan-American
Although born on December 8, 1972, in Kabonyony Village, a suburban area of Eldama Ravine in Baringo County, Kenya, Billy spent the majority of his adult years in the United States of America. The truth is he grew up on the family farm while his father long served as village chief yet ultimately chose to follow a sister’s migration so as to sec ure much better opportunities for his furture. It thus comes as no surprise he worked hard, just to land a stable job as a car salesman before later evolving into a caregiver for senior citizens in in dependent neighborhoods across Texas.
But alas, things began to waver for Billy starting in 2010 when he was arrested for driving under the influence in Dallas County, especially as he followed up with another such charge in 2011. They actually earned him a fine plus a custodial sentence, only for him to so on end up in jail for assaulting a female companion in 2012 and trespassing into Edgemere Retirement Community in 2016. He pleaded no contest to both these indictments later that same year, but little did anyone know he’d ostensibly already evolved into a full-fledged serial killer with three victims under his belt.
We actually state this because, according to reports, Billy had a hand in at least three deaths at the Edgemere luxury senior living facility in Dallas within the first half of 2016 (prior to his June arrest). However, his killing spree purportedly only took off following his ensuing early release from prison on good behavior — that’s when he began targeting Tradition Prestonwood Retirement Community. He apparently used to pose as a medical professional or maintenance man to gain access to such properties across North Texas, just to smother at least 22 older women to death with a pillow.
Though it wasn’t until 2018 that the truth about how Billy stalked, terrified, and slew his preys for their long-held cash/jewelry came to light as one of his intended victims thankfully survived. After all, most of these theft-deaths were initially brushed aside by officials under the assumption of natural causes, especially as asphyxiation by a pillow/smothering leaves very few clear signs. This, hence, got overlooked by medical examiners too since they usually only searched for such aspects if the police had already informed them of a suspicious crime scene, missing items, or anything else similar.
It was then that Billy was positively identified, which eventually resulted in his arrest in March 2018 when he was caught throwing away a jewelry box from his alleged last known victim. He was subsequently charged with the murder of 81-year-old Lu Thi Harris, just to be followed by the accusation he’d also killed 87-year-old Mary Brooks along with 11 added counts of capital murder in May 2019. It is believed he actually took the lives of at least 22 such elderly women before pawning off their jewelry for his own gain the very same day, yet he only ever faced these 13 serious indictments.
Pillow Murderer Billy Chemirmir Ended Up Being Murdered Too
It was on November 15, 2021 — following several delays owing to COVID-19 — that Billy stood trial for the first time in connection to the homicide of Lu Harris, just for it to end in a mistrial. The jury actually deadlocked 11-1, leaving prosecutors no choice but to continue the process by scheduling another proceeding, which began on April 25, 2022, and ended on April 18 with his conviction. This was followed by him being found guilty in October 2022 for the horrific murder of Mary too, just for the presiding District Attorneys to announce they weren’t seeking the death penalty in any manner.
Billy was thus sentenced to two life terms in prison without the possibility of parole, after which all remaining charges against him were dismissed owing to it being clear he’d stay behind bars for the rest of his natural life. And it’s true — he was incarcerated at the administrative security Coffield Unit in Tennessee Colony, Anderson County, Texas, when he was found dead in his cell on September 19, 2023, at the age of 50. According to reports, his 39-year-old cellmate Wyatt Ellis Busby had slain this Kenyan-American native overnight after he’d made some inappropriate, sexual remarks about his children. As for Billy’s cause of death, official police records indicate he died from injuries stemming from blunt force trauma to the head, with the weapon likely being an edged knife.
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