DOJ employee Justin Banta is charged with capital murder after allegedly slipping abortion drugs into his pregnant girlfriend’s drink, causing her to miscarry the baby she had chosen to keep despite his opposition.
Key Takeaways
- Justin Banta, an IT employee with the Department of Justice, faces capital murder charges for allegedly administering abortion drugs to his girlfriend without her consent
- The victim was six weeks pregnant and had expressed her desire to keep the baby, while Banta allegedly wanted her to terminate the pregnancy
- Surveillance footage reportedly shows Banta placing an unknown substance in the victim’s drink at a coffee shop in Tarrant County, Texas
- After providing his phone to authorities, Banta allegedly wiped data remotely, resulting in additional charges of tampering with evidence
- Banta was released on a $500,000 bond for the capital murder charge and a $20,000 bond for evidence tampering
Murder Charges Filed Against DOJ Employee
A Department of Justice employee is now facing capital murder charges after allegedly taking drastic measures to end his girlfriend’s pregnancy against her will. Justin Banta, who works in IT for the Federal Bureau of Prisons, is accused of secretly administering abortion-inducing medication to his girlfriend, who was six weeks pregnant at the time. According to police reports, Banta slipped abortion drugs into a drink he purchased for his girlfriend at a coffee shop in Tarrant County, Texas, in October 2024, an act that was reportedly captured on surveillance footage.
The victim had made it clear to Banta that she wanted to keep their baby, despite his offers to pay for an abortion. Just days before the incident, on October 17, 2024, the woman had a sonogram confirming a healthy pregnancy. Following her consumption of the contaminated beverage, she experienced extreme fatigue and heavy bleeding, ultimately miscarrying on October 19. The legal consequences for Banta are severe, as Texas law recognizes an unborn child as a person, making this case eligible for capital murder charges.
DOJ worker faces capital murder charge for allegedly slipping abortion drug into pregnant girlfriend's drink https://t.co/qKfnFfRpFn
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Evidence and Investigation
The investigation by Texas Rangers revealed troubling details about Banta’s actions before and after the incident. Authorities claim Banta purchased the abortion drugs “Plan C,” which typically contains mifepristone and misoprostol, medications used to terminate pregnancies. Text messages between Banta and his wife allegedly show discussions about the pregnancy and efforts to persuade the victim to have an abortion. Investigators also believe Banta attempted to make abortion-laced cookies, though it’s unclear if these were ever given to the victim.
“The victim reported that her boyfriend intentionally added ‘Plan C’ (commonly known as the abortion drug) to her drink to force her to have an abortion without her knowledge or consent,” police said in their report.
Complicating the case, investigators found no existing tests that could detect the presence of these drugs in the woman’s blood, urine, or fetal remains. This technical limitation presents a potential challenge for prosecutors. Adding to his legal troubles, Banta faces an additional charge of tampering with physical evidence for allegedly wiping data from his cell phone remotely after surrendering it to authorities. This apparent attempt to destroy potential evidence has only strengthened the case against him.
Legal Defense and Context
Banta’s attorney, Michael Heiskell, has strongly disputed the allegations against his client. He has characterized the affidavit as misleading and taken out of context, suggesting that the prosecution’s narrative does not accurately reflect the true nature of the situation or his client’s character. Heiskell has been vocal in defending Banta against what he describes as serious mischaracterizations of both actions and intent.
“Hodgepodge jumbled mess of falsehoods and innuendo,” Michael Heiskell said of the allegations against his client.
The case raises profound questions about reproductive rights, consent, and the legal protection of unborn children. In Texas, where strong pro-life laws are in place, the intentional termination of a pregnancy without the mother’s consent is treated as a serious crime against both the woman and the unborn child. After being booked into jail, Banta posted bond the same day – $500,000 for the capital murder charge and $20,000 for the evidence tampering charge. As the case proceeds, it will likely draw significant attention for its intersection of personal rights, reproductive law, and criminal justice.
“Actions and statements are taken out of context to make it appear that Justin is a cold-hearted killer. The opposite is true,” Michael Heiskell insisted in his defense of Banta.
