A Texas man has been charged with capital murder after allegedly giving his pregnant girlfriend an abortion pill without her knowledge. Justin Anthony Banta, who worked in IT for the US Department of Justice, was arrested following a months-long investigation by the Parker County Sheriff’s Office.
Girlfriend Suspected Foul Play After Meeting at Coffee Shop
According to the police, the woman told investigators that after she informed Banta of her pregnancy, he offered to pay for an abortion. She declined, saying she wanted to keep the baby. A check-up confirmed she was about six weeks pregnant and that the baby had “a strong heartbeat” and healthy 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.
Following the coffee shop meeting, the woman began experiencing heavy bleeding and went to the emergency room. Sadly, she lost the baby a few days later.
Digital Evidence and Legal Ramifications For the Texas Man
The Texas man is also facing charges of tampering with physical evidence. Police stated that when they initially took his phone, they later found that “crucial evidence relating to the case” had been deleted. Investigators believe Banta accessed the phone remotely and wiped it clean.
Authorities obtained a warrant for Banta’s arrest, and he was taken into custody last week. The investigation remains ongoing.
Texas has some of the strictest abortion laws in the U.S. The state’s 2022 legislation allows for civil and criminal penalties for anyone involved in performing an abortion. This has exceptions only in life-threatening medical emergencies. A 2021 law bans abortions after the detection of a fetal heartbeat.
Cases like these show us the harsh realities that exist across the world, even in developed countries like the US.
