Hunter
02/14/24
An area transient who had been wanted since September 2022 was taken into custody Tuesday afternoon on domestic abuse charges.
During the afternoon of the 22nd that year, 36-year-old Robert Marsh reportedly accused the victim of infidelity multiple times. As the night progressed the victim eventually fell asleep and Marsh reportedly was in and out of their Lucas Street apartment. The woman told police that Marsh would leave then come back and confront her, accusing her of cheating and would call her names.
The final time he left and returned he allegedly began calling the victim names and pushing her while she was laying in the bed. The woman tried to defend herself, but that reportedly caused Marsh to push her back. He focused on her head and face and allegedly caused a cut underneath her right eye from his finger.
Marsh reportedly then straddled her putting both hands around her neck applying pressure with both thumbs. As the pressure continued the victim felt pressure behind her eyes and in her head as she was unable to breathe.
The woman put her knees into Marsh’s mid-section kicking at him which made him disengage. Once he was off, she grabbed her phone while Marsh reportedly was trying to take it from her. The victim had red marks on her face and neck and bruising on both arms from the incidents.
She told Marsh that she called 911 and police were on the way; he fled and never returned.
The two had been staying together for roughly a month and were together in a different state before Marsh moved to Iowa City.
A warrant was issued, and Marsh was booked into the Johnson County Jail after being wanted for nearly a year and a half. He was charged with Domestic Abuse Assault causing Injury, and Domestic Abuse Assault impeding Airflow. If convicted on both counts, Marsh could be sentenced to up to six years in prison.