William Carey Jr., 46, of Perkiomen Township. (Credit: Montgomery County DA)
Defense argues meth use left William Roy Carey Jr. incapable of rational thought in girlfriend Jessica Zipkin’s death
A Perkiomen Township man went on trial this week accused of bludgeoning his girlfriend to death with a hammer, as prosecutors argued he acted with the clear intent to kill.
Now, as of 11 a.m. Thursday, his fate is in the hands of the jury, as closing arguments have ended, according to The Mercury.
William Roy Carey Jr., 47, allegedly struck 34-year-old Jessica Zipkin more than 20 times in the head during a domestic disturbance inside his Gravel Pike apartment on Nov. 1, 2024, Montgomery County prosecutors told jurors.
Assistant District Attorney Christian Garfield Taffe said at the start of the trial on Wednesday the repeated blows shattered Zipkin’s skull and left her dying in the apartment for hours, according to The Mercury. Taffe added that Carey took steps to cover his tracks afterward, including allegedly disposing of bloodstained clothing. Prosecutors are pursuing a first-degree murder conviction, which carries a mandatory life sentence.
“Jessica is struck in the head with a hammer over and over and over again at least 20 times,” argued Taffe, according to The Mercury. “Jessica was left alone in that cold, dark room for 10 hours. You will see the conscious steps the defendant took to conceal his crime.”
Taffe alleged evidence indicated Carey disposed of his bloodstained clothing at a nearby location after the fatal attack.
Defense attorneys Joseph Schultz and Scott Frank Frame countered that Carey was under the influence of methamphetamine and could not form the specific intent required for a first-degree murder conviction, according to the report. They are arguing for a lesser charge of third-degree murder, which could carry a sentence of up to 40 years.
“The rational choices that people make are changed when people are under the influence of these drugs,” Frame told the jury, according to The Mercury.
Jurors were shown graphic photos and video of the crime scene and Zipkin’s autopsy, evidence that Judge Wendy G. Rothstein allowed while instructing jurors not to let emotions cloud their judgment.
Forensic pathologist Dr. Ian Hood testified Zipkin suffered at least 20 head impacts consistent with powerful hammer strikes, ruling her death a homicide caused by blunt force trauma.
Carey faces charges of first- and third-degree murder.
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.
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.
