Perkiomen man to pursue intoxication defense in murder trial

A Perkiomen Township man accused of fatally beating his girlfriend with a hammer has a new defense – the drugs allegedly made him do it.

According to a report by “The Mercury,” William Roy Carey Jr., 47, of Gravel Pike, will argue he was under the influence of drugs at the time of the killing in an effort to reduce the degree of homicide.

Carey faces charges of first- and third-degree murder in the Nov. 1, 2024 death of Jessica Zipkin.

During a pretrial hearing Friday before Montgomery County Judge Wendy G. Rothstein, Carey said he wanted his lawyers to introduce evidence of voluntary intoxication to challenge the prosecution’s contention that he had a specific intent to kill, “The Mercury” reported. Prosecutors Deputy District Attorney Kelly S. Lloyd and Christian Taffe are seeking a first-degree murder conviction, which carries a mandatory life term, according to the report.

Rothstein also ruled jurors will be shown photographs and video of the crime scene and certain autopsy images, rejecting defense arguments that the evidence was too inflammatory, according to “The Mercury.”

Jury selection is set to begin Sept. 9, and the trial is expected to last four days. Carey remains held without bail at Montgomery County jail.

Read more on the intoxication defense here.

On Nov. 2, at 1:25 a.m., Pennsylvania State Police were dispatched to Carey’s apartment at 534 Gravel Pike for a report of a possible death, per the criminal complaint. Upon arrival, police found Zipkin face down on the bedroom floor, with a fatal wound to the back of her head, according to the DA.

A red hammer was covered in blood next to her, authorities said.

An autopsy conducted by Dr. Ian Hood of the Montgomery County Coroner’s Office determined Zipkin died of blunt force trauma to the head and the manner of death was homicide, Steele said.

The case was investigated by Pennsylvania State Police and Montgomery County detectives.

Zipkin left behind her parents, Jeanette Weiss and Harrison Zipkin, sister Samantha Mertz and brother Joshua Zipkin, per her online memorial.

All suspects and defendants are innocent until proven guilty. This story was compiled using public court records.