DALLAS COUNTY (1080 KRLD)- The first trial for accused mass murderer Billy Chemirmir has been set in Dallas County court.
Dallas County State District Court Judge Rocky Jones set November 12 to pick a jury for Chemirmir’s first capital murder case.
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Chemirmir, 48 Dallas, stands accused of killing 18 elderly women in Dallas and Collin Counties. Police say the former health care worker used pillows to smother his victims. He was arrested after a failed attempt to kill a Frisco woman in October of 2017. The elderly woman told police a man came to her door, claiming to be a maintenance worker. The man forces himself inside, the woman said. Once inside she said the man at first covered her face with a pillow, then suddenly stopped and instead stole property. The case caught the attention of Plano police, who were investigating a similar incident. A stake-out led police to property in a dumpster. That property belonged to a woman who was discovered to have been murdered, court papers say.
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The arrest turned into a massive investigation in both Dallas and Collin Counties where police say they were able to link Chemirmir to at least 18 victims.
While capital murder has only two possible outcomes for punishment, life without parole and the death penalty, Dallas County prosecutors have already decided not to seek death in any of the cases.
It has been a long wait for relatives of the victims.
“It’s way overdue.” said Dan Probst, nephew of victim Katherine Sinclair. “This is one of the worst crimes in the history of the state and for it to just be on the back burner, that’s not right.”
While thankful that a trial date has finally been set, Probst is still angry about the decision not to seek capital punishment.
“I just plain do not understand that. It’s their job to execute the law as it’s on the books and I don’t think that’s happening.” Probst said.
While the death penalty is not being sought in Dallas county, prosecutors in Collin County have not made that decision in any of its seven cases. So far Chemirmir has not been scheduled for trial in Collin County, records show.
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