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
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
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
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
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
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]
