Investigators found a trove of women's jewelry, cell phones, and medical scrubs while searching the apartment of a Dallas man accused of killing an elderly woman and who police believe could be linked to the murders of other elderly victims across North Texas, according to a returned search warrant obtained by WFAA.
Billy Kipkorir Chemirmir, 45, who was charged last month with capital murder in Dallas and attempted murder in Collin County.
Chemirmir has been known to pose as a maintenance or healthcare worker at retirement communities, authorities have said.
Police also found a memorial flier for a 79-year-old woman who died in 2016 in Chemirmir's apartment, the warrant said.
Dallas police are reviewing 750 elderly death cases to determine if any are linked to Chemirmir.
A search warrant affidavit obtained by WFAA on Monday revealed what Dallas detectives found at his apartment in the 4500 block of Pear Drive on Jan. 22.
Among the items listed in the detectives' handwritten field notes were more than two dozen pieces of jewelry, including silver and gold earrings and bracelets.
Last month, on March 20, Plano police were closely watching Chemirmir at his apartment complex on Pear Ridge Drive in Dallas when officers saw him throw a jewelry box into a dumpster, according to a previous arrest warrant affidavit. They quickly arrested him on outstanding warrants.
When police took the jewelry box out of the dumpster, they found items linking Chemirmir to a home at 6609 Warm Breeze Lane in Dallas, where 81-year-old Lu Thi Harris was found dead in her bedroom, the affidavit said.
Officers found lipstick smeared on her face and on a nearby pillow, according to the affidavit, leading them to believe she may have been smothered.
Other items of interest in the search warrant from Chemirmir's home obtained Monday included more than 10 cellphones; passports and other documents under Chemirmir's alias, Benjamin Koitaba; foreign currency from Costa Rica, San Marino and Mexico was also found in Chemirmir's apartment; and more than 20 business cards, including ones for home healthcare groups.
The search warrant did not detail how investigators believe the array items are connected to Chemirmir's cases.
On March 19, Plano police began investigating a similar attack involving a 91-year-old woman. The affidavit does not indicate where the attack happened, but does say the suspect "forced his way into the victim's apartment, told her to 'go to the bed, don't fight me.'"
When she did as she was told the suspect pulled a pillow over her face and tried to kill her. A friend later found her, and Plano firefighters were able to resuscitate her.
Plano investigators say they started combing through information and came upon a report of a suspicious vehicle being in the area of one of their cases on March 15.
Here's where police seem to have caught a break: Documents say the vehicle was a silver Nissan Altima, and Dallas PD records state it was involved in a crash on March 17. The driver, according to the arrest warrant affidavit, was Billy Chemirmir.
Further digging showed Chemirmir had been given trespass notices in 2016 at a retirement community after being accused of posing as an employee.
IMMIGRATION HOLD
In addition to the capital murder and attempted capital murder charges Chemirmir faces, there's also an immigration hold on him, according to Dallas County jail records.
Sources confirm to WFAA that Chemirmir is from Kenya and moved to the U.S. in 2003. He began the process to become a citizen in 2007, but as of today hasn't finished it. It typically takes about three years. Since he isn't done, ICE has placed a hold on him.
A murder conviction could lead to his deportation, sources say.
POSSIBLE OTHER CASES
Richardson police say in light of Dallas and Plano's cases, they are reviewing a few of their incidents to see if there may be a connection to Chemirmir.
Police are asking anyone with information to call their tip line (listed at the top of the story). They're also asking anyone who reached out to the suspect seeking health care or home health care to call them.
A tip line has been set up through the Frisco Police Department, and police ask that citizens who have any information on Chemirmir or know of any more possible victims call (972) 941-5785.