In a Texas prison, a man accused of killing 22 elderly women over a span of two years, with a motive to steal their jewelry and valuables, met his end on Tuesday. This 50-year-old individual, Billy Chemirmir (pictured above), previously convicted for the murders of two women, was discovered lifeless in his cell within a remote East Texas prison.
The cause of death?
He was fatally attacked by his cellmate, who himself was serving time for murder, according to information provided by Hannah Haney, a spokesperson for the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.
Chemirmir's demise occurred in the wake of an unusual statewide lockdown of all 100 Texas prisons, which was prompted by a surge in killings within the prison system, reportedly linked to drug-related issues, as indicated by prison officials.
The identity of the cellmate responsible for Chemirmir's death remains undisclosed, and the details surrounding the incident, including the method used and the possible motives, have not been released to the public.
Family members of the victims he was accused of killing reacted with a mixture of shock and relief upon hearing the news.
Shannon Dion, whose 92-year-old mother, Doris Gleason, was among those allegedly murdered by Chemirmir, expressed her emotions at a news conference. She stated, "My mother died in fear. This man did not have a peaceful passing. There’s some relief in feeling that he didn’t get off easily."
Initially, the deaths of these women in Dallas and neighboring cities were categorized as natural causes, despite concerns raised by family members regarding missing jewelry. It was only after a 91-year-old woman survived an attack in 2018 and reported a forced entry into her apartment by a man who attempted to smother her with a pillow and stole her jewelry that Chemirmir was apprehended.
Following his arrest, law enforcement agencies revisited several deaths in the area, leading to an expansion of charges against him. Many of the victims' children were baffled by the deaths, as their mothers, although older, had been healthy and active.
Chemirmir's first capital murder trial for the death of Lu Thi Harris ended in a mistrial in Dallas County. He was subsequently convicted in a retrial for Harris' death and later found guilty of a second killing, that of Mary Brooks, 87.
At one point, family members of Chemirmir's alleged victims confronted him in a Dallas courtroom, displaying photos of their loved ones before and after the crimes. The emotional impact was evident as they spoke of the pain caused by his actions.
Most of the victims resided in apartments within independent living communities for seniors. One victim lived in a private home and was the widow of a man Chemirmir had cared for while working as an at-home caregiver.
Chemirmir had faced a total of 22 capital murder charges, with 13 in Dallas County and nine in neighboring Collin County. After his convictions in Dallas County, the remaining 11 charges were dismissed, and the death penalty was not pursued.
Last month, Collin County prosecutors also announced they would not seek the death penalty.
Billy Chemirmir, who consistently maintained his innocence, was serving two life sentences without the possibility of parole at the Coffield Unit, located approximately 100 miles southeast of Dallas.
Phillip Hayes, Chemirmir's attorney, described his death as "just a horrible tragedy," emphasizing that nobody should meet such a fate, particularly while incarcerated against their will.
Earlier in the month, the Texas Department of Criminal Justice implemented lockdown measures in response to a rise in dangerous contraband and drug-related inmate homicides.
At the time of the announcement on September 6th, there had been 16 inmate-on-inmate homicides in the current year, compared to nine in 2021 and seven in 2022. During the lockdown, inmates' movements and interactions with outsiders were restricted, with intensified searches and drug testing protocols.
Amanda Hernandez, a spokesperson for the department, revealed that comprehensive searches had concluded, and 75 units had returned to normal operations as of Tuesday. However, the Coffield Unit, where Chemirmir was incarcerated, remained among the 25 units still under lockdown.
Haney disclosed that the Office of Inspector General was conducting an investigation into Chemirmir's death.
In another news, a man has been put behind bars for a robbery in Soho after Metropolitan detectives uncovered vital DNA and CCTV evidence linking him to the crime. See detailed story
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