The Parker County sheriff says a man has been arrested for sneaking abortion pills into his girlfriend's drink. Sheriff Russ Authier says Justin Banta, 38, was arrested Friday, but the case started in September.
The sheriff's department says the victim and Banta were dating, and she learned she was pregnant. Investigators say she told Banta, and he suggested an abortion, saying he would pay for "Plan C" medication.
The woman said she wanted to keep the baby. In October, the sheriff's office says she went for a check-up and learned "the baby had a strong heartbeat, displayed good vital signs and was said to be healthy by her doctor."
In an email, the department said the woman met Banta at a coffee shop later that day.
"She expressed her suspicion that Banta had secretly added abortion-inducing pills to her drink without her knowledge or permission," the department wrote.
The following day, the woman went to the hospital after experiencing "extreme fatigue and heavy bleeding." She lost the child two days later.
The sheriff's department questioned Banta and confiscated his cell phone as evidence. The department says he worked in IT for the Department of Justice and managed to reset the phone remotely, "thereby deleting crucial evidence related to the case."
Banta was arrested and charged with capital murder and tampering with evidence.
Sheriff Russ Authier credits his investigators along with the owner of the coffee shop with helping in the investigation. He says Benbrook Police, Texas Rangers, Tarrant County Criminal District Attorney’s Digital Forensic and Technical Services, U.S. Secret Service, Regional Organized Crime Information Center and the FBI also provided support during the investigation.