Investigators find history of domestic abuse against Iowa City woman who was fatally assaulted

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IOWA CITY — An Iowa City man called 911 on Jan. 6, saying a “girl” was passed out and cold inside his residence, but investigators later would learn this wasn’t the first time police had responded to this address.

Paramedics and law enforcement arrived and identified Victoria Skarda, 33, of Iowa City, who lived in the home with the 911 caller, Joshua R. Perry, 34, and was the mother of his 3-year-old child. The child also was present during this incident, according to criminal complaints.

Skarda was already dead when emergency responders arrived at the condo in the 300 block of Camden Road in Iowa City. 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 a criminal complaint, Skarda had injuries on her body consistent with an assault.

Perry was 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.

What has happened since

Perry, who had remained in jail under a $500,000 cash-only bail ordered by 6th Judicial District Associate Judge Brandon Schrock, asked for a bail review in February.

Senior Judge Deb Minot, in a bail review order Feb. 20, said the $500,000 bail was appropriate based on the fact that Skarda was dead and the circumstances were under investigation. However, Perry had been charged only with two misdemeanors at this time. Based on those charges, and Perry’s lack of significant criminal history, Minot concluded the bail was “excessive and should be reduced.”

Perry requested release to the 6th Judicial District Department of Correctional Services and agreed to GPS monitoring, but an official with the department testified during the hearing that the department doesn’t use GPS monitoring, Minot said in the order.

Johnson County Attorney Rachel Zimmermann Smith requested bail be continued, but if it was reduced, she requested GPS monitoring or that Perry be released to supervision of the department, according to Minot’s order.

Minot decided to release Perry from jail and move him into the Johnson County Sheriff’s Office monitored release pretrial program, if approved by sheriff officials. Minot believed that program would provide more protection for the son of Skarda and Perry and the community. The program provides more “structured” release conditions, such as a curfew, the order stated.

Minot then ordered a $15,000 bail for both charges and allowed Perry to post 10 percent with the clerk, which his mother did shortly after the bail review hearing, according to court documents. He was then released to the pretrial monitoring program.

The judge also modified the original no-contact order against Perry to protect the child’s two guardians, as well as the child.

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.

In March, Perry was charged with first-degree murder and his GPS pretrial release was revoked, according to court documents.

An autopsy revealed Skarda’s death was a homicide caused by cardiorespiratory arrest — in which both heart and lungs stop functioning — due to the physical assault on Jan. 6, according to a criminal complaint.

Zimmermann Smith dismissed the domestic assault charge because the facts and circumstances were incorporated into the elements of the murder charge. The child endangerment charge remains as a separate case against Perry.

A judge, during an initial appearance, placed Perry under a $1 million cash-only bail on the first-degree murder charge.

According to court documents, the condo on Camden Road was owned by Skarda and the administrator of her estate — her mother, Anna Bielecki — filed an application for the authority to sell the condo, which the court granted.

Last month, Bielecki also asked the court to appoint her as the conservator for her grandson because he will inherit proceeds from the sale of the condo. A hearing is set for later this month.

Perry’s trial, which was previously set for August, recently was reset to next year. It now is scheduled to start Jan. 27.

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

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