Man charged with murder after slipping abortion drug in pregnant girlfriend's drink
A man has been charged with murder after he allegedly slipped an abortion drug into his pregnant girlfriend's coffee.
Justin Anthony Banta was arrested on Friday after a months-long investigation into his former girlfriend's accusation that he gave her the Plan C pill, which is a known abortion drug, without her knowledge.
Police in Texas say Banta's ex-partner said when she disclosed her pregnancy last year, he had offered to cover the cost of an abortion, but she told him she wanted desire to keep the baby.
Police said after meeting with Mr Banta in a coffee shop, she experienced heavy bleeding and visited the emergency room, but lost her baby a few days later.
The 38-year-old has now been charged with felonies for attempted capital murder and tampering with physical evidence and is awaiting prosecution, according to the Parker County Sheriff's Office.
Police said Banta's former girlfriend was around six-weeks pregnant when she went for a check up with her doctor, who told her the baby was healthy and had "a strong heartbeat" and vital signs.
"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 said he had suggested they buy the Plan C abortion drug online after she disclosed her pregnancy.
'The victim reported she lost her baby on October 19, which she believed was a result of the drugs Banta had previously placed in her drink at the coffee shop without her permission,' the Parker County Sheriff's Office said.
Following an interview with Banta, police collected his mobile phone, but later discovered "crucial evidence relating to the case" was deleted, they said.
Investigators said they believed Banta, who worked in IT at the US Department of Justice, later accessed his phone remotely and performed a "reset".
Investigators had seized his cellphone as evidence. However, Parker County officials allege that Banta used his IT skills to remotely connect to his cellphone and force a 'reset' while it was in possession of local authorities and 'thereby deleting crucial evidence related to the case.'
An arrest warrant for him was then obtained, and Banta was charged last week with capital murder and tampering with physical evidence.
Police said the cases against Banta remains 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.
A law in 2021 also bans the termination of pregnancies after a baby's heartbeat is detected, but does make exceptions for medical emergencies.
Banta was taken into custody last Friday. He was released later that day on bond set at $500,000 for the attempted murder charge and $20,000 for the charge of tampering with evidence, local jail records show.
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