Iowa City man will claim self-defense, diminished capacity at January murder trial

IOWA CITY — An Iowa City man charged in the fatal assault of his girlfriend will claim diminished capacity, intoxication and self-defense at his Jan. 27 trial in Johnson County District Court.

  Buy Photo

Joshua R. Perry, 34, is charged with first-degree murder in the fatal assault of Victoria Skarda, 33, of Iowa City on Jan. 6.

He also is charged with child endangerment in a separate case because Perry and Skarda’s 3-year-old was in the home at the time of the fatal assault, according to a criminal complaint.

The notice of defenses for Perry — diminished capacity, intoxication by drugs or alcohol and defense of self, of others and against forcible felony — were filed last week.

Perry called 911 on Jan. 6, saying a “girl” was passed out and cold inside his residence, but later investigators learned it was Skarda and she was dead and had injuries consistent with being assaulted, according to criminal complaints.

Authorities also found out Skarda lived at the condo in the 300 block of Camden Road with Perry and they had a 3-year-old child who was in the home when the fatal assault happened.

Police said the circumstances were “suspicious.” The assault happened about 3:30 a.m., but Perry didn’t call police until 9:19 a.m.

Skarda had sent a message to a family member indicating she had been beaten, and witnesses told police they heard a physical fight inside the condo, according to court records.

Perry was initially charged with child endangerment and domestic abuse assault causing bodily injury, both aggravated misdemeanors, as a suspicious death investigation started.

According to Skarda’s obituary, she graduated from Iowa City West High School in 2010 and worked as a perioperative clerk at University of Iowa Health Care. She “loved” spending time with her family and son, who was her “entire world.” She also enjoyed traveling, especially summers in the Czech Republic.

During the investigation, detectives found domestic abuse altercations had occurred previously between Skarda and Perry on Camden Road. One of those incidents happened on Dec. 7, 2021, where Skarda was heard yelling she couldn’t breathe and “Take your hands off my neck.”

According to a search warrant affidavit filed in 2023, a confidential informant told investigators Perry was selling cocaine and marijuana in Iowa City. Perry also sold about 1.5 grams of cocaine during a controlled purchase police set up at the Camden Road condo. During the purchase, more cocaine was seen inside the residence in plain view.

The affidavit mentioned domestic incidents between Skarda and Perry in 2021 and 2022. The document also included Perry’s history of a previous drug conviction in Johnson County in 2012.

Perry wasn’t charged with first-degree murder until March. His pretrial release was then revoked and he remains in jail under a $1 million bail.

According to an autopsy, Skarda’s death was a homicide caused by cardiorespiratory arrest — in which both heart and lungs stop functioning — due to the physical assault, according to a criminal complaint.

If convicted, Perry faces life in prison without the possibility of parole.

Trish Mehaffey covers state and federal courts for The Gazette

Comments: (319) 398-8318; trish.mehaffey@thegazette.com