A Department of Justice employee in Texas faces capital murder charges after allegedly spiking his pregnant girlfriend’s drink with abortion drugs, causing her to lose her unborn child just days after being told the baby was healthy.
At a Glance
- Justin Banta, 38, a DOJ employee, is charged with capital murder for allegedly secretly administering abortion drugs to his pregnant girlfriend
- Surveillance footage reportedly shows Banta tampering with the woman’s drink before giving it to her at a coffee shop meeting
- The woman, who was 6 weeks pregnant and wanted to keep the baby, suffered a miscarriage two days after consuming the drink
- Tests confirmed the presence of abortion drugs mifepristone and misoprostol in cookies he gave her
- Banta faces additional charges for tampering with evidence after remotely erasing information from his confiscated phone
Details of the Alleged Crime
Justin Banta, a 38-year-old Department of Justice employee, has been charged with capital murder following allegations that he secretly administered abortion-inducing drugs to his pregnant girlfriend without her knowledge or consent. According to investigators, on October 17, Banta met with his girlfriend at a coffee shop shortly after she had received confirmation from her doctor that her 6-week-old unborn child was healthy. During this meeting, the woman reportedly expressed her desire to continue with the pregnancy, despite Banta’s apparent wishes for her to terminate it.
Surveillance footage from the coffee shop reportedly captured Banta pouring an unknown substance into a drink and stirring it before giving it to the woman, along with cookies. Authorities later found the presence of abortion drugs mifepristone and misoprostol in the cookies. The day following this meeting, the woman experienced extreme fatigue and heavy bleeding, which prompted her to seek emergency medical care. By October 19, just two days after consuming the allegedly tainted drink, she suffered a miscarriage.
DOJ worker charged with capital murder in Texas for spiking girlfriend's drink with abortion pillhttps://t.co/CIlV59Mbgu
— The Post Millennial (@TPostMillennial) June 10, 2025
Investigation and Charges
Multiple law enforcement agencies, including the Parker County Sheriff’s Office, Texas Rangers, and the FBI, conducted a months-long investigation into the case. During their investigation, authorities discovered that Banta had allegedly ordered abortion drugs online. He also reportedly informed his wife about the pregnancy and expressed a desire for his girlfriend to have an abortion. Following a thorough investigation, officials issued an arrest warrant, and Banta was taken into custody on June 6.
“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 addition to the capital murder charge, Banta faces charges of tampering with physical evidence. According to authorities, after his phone was confiscated by police, Banta allegedly accessed it remotely to delete information described by law enforcement as “crucial evidence relating to the case.” The investigation remains active and ongoing, with officials from multiple agencies continuing to gather evidence and build their case against the DOJ employee.
DOJ worker charged with capital murder in Texas for spiking pregnent girlfriend's drink with abortion pillhttps://t.co/QxiQM7l07m
— Jack Poso 🇺🇸 (@JackPosobiec) June 11, 2025
Legal Context and Defense Response
The case takes place in Texas, which has some of the strictest abortion laws in the nation. The state bans most abortions except in dire medical circumstances, with laws introduced in 2021 and 2022 imposing civil and criminal penalties for performing abortions. Under Texas law, the intentional killing of an unborn child can be prosecuted as capital murder, which carries potential penalties including life imprisonment or the death penalty upon conviction.
“These charges that have been alleged by the investigative agencies and the officers are purely fictional at this point,” said Michael Heiskell, Banta’s attorney.
Banta’s attorney has publicly disputed the charges, attributing the situation to “a relationship gone bad.” According to court records, Banta was released on bond the same day he was arrested and maintains his innocence. The Department of Justice has not yet issued any official comment regarding the case or Banta’s employment status. The case has drawn significant attention from both law enforcement and the public due to the serious nature of the allegations and Banta’s employment with a federal agency.
