BALTIMORE (AP) — Landlords in Baltimore are being held liable for hiring a convicted sex offender with a violent criminal record who then attacked two tenants and set them on fire, with a jury awarding the victims $21.5 million.

The same man murdered a tech CEO just days after attacking April Hurley and Jonte Gilmore in their home in 2023, which he was able to enter by misrepresenting himself as building maintenance. The lawsuit argued the companies neglected basic background vetting for Jason Billingsley, who was allowed to live on the companies’ property and to perform paid upkeep tasks.

The jury awarded the money, including $10 million in punitive damages, last week in Baltimore City Circuit Court.

“I’m just thankful that me and Jonte survived that day and that we made it this far to

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