Justin Banta, 38, faces capital murder charges after allegedly adding an abortion drug to his pregnant girlfriend’s drink, leading to the loss of her pregnancy. According to the Parker County Sheriff’s Office, Banta, a Justice Department IT staffer, was arrested following an incident at a coffee shop in Tarrant County, Texas, last October. The victim reported that Banta added ‘Plan C’ to her drink without her consent, forcing her to have an abortion. Banta was booked on one count of tampering with physical evidence in addition to the capital murder charge. The Justice Department has not commented on the incident.
Banta was released from custody after posting a $500,000 bond for the capital murder charge and a $20,000 bond for the evidence-tampering charge. Investigators believe he accessed the victim’s phone remotely to delete digital evidence. The victim told investigators that she and Banta were in a romantic relationship when she discovered she was pregnant and that he suggested they order ‘Plan C’ online. Despite her desire to keep the baby, Banta allegedly added the drug to her drink at a coffee shop, leading to her hospitalization and the loss of her pregnancy.
The incident has sparked legal and ethical debates about the use of violence for non-consensual procedures. The case highlights the severity of the charges and the potential consequences for Banta’s actions. Legal experts are closely monitoring the case as it could set new precedents in legal and ethical discussions surrounding reproductive rights and personal autonomy.