A Texas man, Justin Anthony Banta, has been charged with murder after allegedly slipping an abortion drug into his pregnant girlfriend’s drink without her knowledge or consent. According to the Parker County Sheriff’s Office, Banta’s ex-partner had disclosed her pregnancy to him and expressed her desire to keep the baby, despite his offer to cover the cost of an abortion.
The victim, who was around six weeks pregnant, had met Banta at a coffee shop, where she suspected he secretly added abortion-inducing pills to her drink. After the meeting, she experienced heavy bleeding and visited the emergency room, ultimately losing her baby a few days later. The sheriff’s office reported that the baby had a “strong heartbeat” and vital signs during a doctor’s check-up earlier that day.
“Later that same day, the victim reported she met Banta at a coffee shop… where she expressed her suspicion that Banta had secretly added abortion-inducing pills to her drink without her knowledge or permission,” the sheriff’s office said in a statement. Banta’s former girlfriend also claimed he suggested buying the Plan C abortion drug online after she disclosed her pregnancy.
Following an interview with Banta, police collected his mobile phone, but later discovered crucial evidence relating to the case had been deleted. Investigators believe Banta accessed his phone remotely and performed a “reset”.
Banta was charged with capital murder and tampering with physical evidence. The cases against him remain active and ongoing. Texas has some of the most restrictive abortion laws in the US, banning all abortions except in dire medical circumstances. The state introduced a law in 2022 that carries civil and criminal penalties for those who perform abortions.
The Texas man, Justin Anthony Banta, allegedly slipped an abortion drug into his pregnant girlfriend’s drink without her knowledge or consent, leading to her losing the baby. Banta’s ex-partner had expressed her desire to keep the baby, despite his offer to cover the cost of an abortion.
The case highlights the complexities of abortion laws in Texas, where abortions are banned except in dire medical circumstances. Banta faces serious charges, including capital murder and tampering with physical evidence, after deleting crucial evidence from his phone.