Retrial Date Set for Dallas Serial-Killing Suspect Billy Chemirmir

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DALLAS — Dallas serial-killing suspect Billy Chemirmir will once again go to trial in the smothering death of an 81-year-old woman.

Chemirmir was tried in November on a capital murder charge in Lu Harris’ death, but a judge ordered a mistrial after the jury deadlocked following about 11 hours of deliberations over two days.

His retrial is set for April 25, according to court records.

Dallas County District Attorney John Creuzot has said he was committed to retrying the case. He reiterated his commitment at the time to securing two convictions; grand juries in Collin and Dallas counties indicted Chemirmir on capital murder charges in the deaths of 18 elderly women.

Jurors at the November trial weighed Chemirmir’s guilt or innocence only in the death of Harris, who was found dead in her Dallas home in March 2018.

Several families of the victims said they were “devastated” by the mistrial, declared by state District Judge Raquel “Rocky” Jones. In a collective statement at the time, the families said they looked forward to more cases being prosecuted, including in Collin County.



Chemirmir has been linked to at least two dozen deaths since 2016, according to police and court records. Police have said he could be among the state’s most prolific serial killers.

At the November trial, jurors also heard about attacks on Mary Brooks, 88, and Mary Bartel, 91. Brooks died in January 2018 and Bartel survived an attempted smothering the day before Harris died.

Dallas County Assistant District Attorney Glen Fitzmartin sent a note to victims’ families last week informing them of the new trial date, according to KXAS-TV (NBC5).

If convicted of capital murder, Chemirmir faces life in prison without parole. Prosecutors are not seeking the death penalty. He remained in Dallas County jail Tuesday on a multimillion-dollar bail.

Chemirmir and his counsel have repeatedly denied the charges leveled against him and claimed his innocence. His attorney, Phillip Hayes, did not respond to a request for comment.