BREAKING: A Perkiomen Township man, William Roy Carey Jr., is set to present a voluntary intoxication defense in his upcoming trial for the fatal beating of his girlfriend, Jessica Zipkin. The trial is scheduled to begin on Sept. 9, 2025, following a pretrial hearing where Carey communicated his strategy to Montgomery County Judge Wendy G. Rothstein.
During the hearing, Carey, aged 47, informed the court he plans to argue that he was under the influence of drugs at the time of the alleged murder, which occurred during a domestic disturbance in their Gravel Pike apartment on Nov. 1, 2024. Prosecutors allege that Carey fatally struck Zipkin, 34, multiple times with a hammer, leading to charges of both first- and third-degree murder.
The prosecution aims to secure a first-degree murder conviction, carrying a mandatory life sentence. In contrast, a third-degree murder conviction could result in a sentence ranging from 20 to 40 years. Carey’s defense will focus on negating the prosecution’s claim of his specific intent to kill, citing evidence of his intoxication at the time of the incident.
Court documents reveal that Carey’s defense team, led by attorneys Joseph Schultz and Scott Frank Frame, plans to introduce evidence of his intoxication to challenge the intent element required for a first-degree charge. However, specific details regarding this evidence remain undisclosed.
In a significant ruling, Judge Rothstein allowed the prosecution to present graphic evidence, including photographs and video footage from the crime scene, which depict Zipkin’s injuries. Deputy District Attorney Kelly S. Lloyd argued that such evidence is crucial for the jury to understand the context of the alleged murder, countering defense assertions that it could be overly inflammatory.
Lloyd maintained that the jury needs to view the full extent of what occurred, stating, “There is no need to sanitize the evidence.” Judge Rothstein agreed, allowing the materials to be presented, while instructing jurors to remain impartial and not let emotions sway their judgment.
Witness statements from neighbors indicate a loud argument and screams were heard around 2:30 p.m. on the day of the incident. Following the attack, investigators found Zipkin face down with severe blunt force trauma to her head, and a bloodied hammer was located near her body. An autopsy confirmed her death as a homicide.
Carey remains in Montgomery County Jail without bail as he awaits trial. The case has drawn attention not only for its tragic nature but also due to Carey’s familial ties; his brother, Kyle Carey, was recently convicted for serious offenses involving a minor.
As the trial approaches, all eyes will be on the courtroom to see how the defense’s intoxication argument will unfold against the backdrop of harrowing evidence and the prosecution’s push for justice for Jessica Zipkin. Stay tuned for live updates as the trial begins.
