A North Texas man has been arrested and charged in the death of his unborn child after allegedly placing crushed abortion pills in his then-girlfriend’s drink without her knowledge.
Justin Anthony Banta was arrested on June 6 following a month-long investigation after his ex-girlfriend reported what had occurred. He has been charged with capital murder as well as tampering with evidence.
The victim, whose identity has not been publicly released, told investigators that the two were in a romantic relationship when she discovered she was pregnant in September 2024. Banta allegedly said he would cover the costs of an abortion and suggested they order the drugs online. However, the woman told him she wanted to continue her pregnancy.
Shortly after, a routine sonogram confirmed the baby was healthy. That same day, the woman met Banta at a coffee shop in Burleson. She reported that Justin had already purchased her drink, which she drank entirely when she arrived.
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“The next day, the victim stated she began to suffer from extreme fatigue and heavy bleeding, prompting her to visit the emergency room,” police said. The victim reported that her baby died on October 19, 2024. She believes the abortion pills Banta gave her caused her child’s death.
Investigators interviewed Banta after the victim’s report and confiscated his phone, after which he allegedly tampered with evidence. Authorities believe he accessed his phone remotely and deleted crucial information related to the case.
Though Justin was later released on a $520,000 bond, the case remains active, and he awaits prosecution. Due to the ongoing investigation, no further details have been made public.
Banta’s case highlights the continued threat of abortion pills in Texas, with an estimated 19,000 entering Texas each year. Abortion pills not only end the lives of unborn children but also place women at serious risk. Beyond this, a recent study by the Ethics and Public Policy Center found that abortion pills are 22 times more dangerous than FDA reports suggest, with nearly one in ten women experiencing serious medical complications.
Justin’s girlfriend was forced to go to the emergency room due to the effects of the drugs. Thankfully, she lived. Other women have not been so fortunate. Georgia women, Candi Miller and Amber Thurmann, lost their lives after taking abortion pills. These are deaths that could have been prevented.
This is not the first case involving someone forcibly administering abortion pills to a woman.
In 2022, Mason Herring faced criminal charges after admitting he had placed Misoprostol in his wife Catherine’s drink without her knowledge. She became ill and went to the emergency room. Catherine was forced to give birth 10 weeks early. The Herrings were separated at the time of the incident, and Catherine subsequently filed for divorce after the baby’s birth. She also filed for a protective order against Mason, which a judge granted.
Yet despite this growing threat, the Texas Legislature failed to pass the Woman and Child Protection Act (Senate Bill 2880; 89R) during the most recent session. This critical bill would have targeted those who promote, manufacture, and distribute these dangerous drugs—not the women who are often victims of coercion or abuse.
Justin Banta should not be the cautionary tale that lawmakers ignore. His case highlights the urgent need for stronger safeguards to prevent abortion pills from falling into the wrong hands. There is still time for a special session to be called to pass the Woman and Child Protection Act and protect both Texas mothers and their unborn children from further harm.
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