US Federal Employee Faces Capital Murder Charges for Allegedly Spiking Girlfriend’s Coffee with Abortion Pills
Shocking Case: Federal Employee Charged with Capital Murder After Allegedly Administering Abortion Pills to Girlfriend
Here’s the latest on the shocking case:
🏛️ Federal Employee Faces Capital Murder Charge
Justin Anthony Banta, a 38-year-old IT specialist with the U.S. Department of Justice (Federal Bureau of Prisons), has been charged with attempted capital murder in Parker County, Texas, after allegedly spiking his pregnant girlfriend’s coffee with Plan C abortion drugs in October 2024 (news.yahoo.com, people.com).
The victim, approximately six weeks pregnant, suffered severe bleeding the next day and subsequently miscarried (dallasnews.com).
🕵️♂️ Additional Charges & Evidence
Banta is also charged with tampering with physical evidence, accused of remotely wiping his phone after it was seized by investigators (people.com).
Texas Rangers filed the charges. Capital murder in Texas can result in the death penalty (nrlc.org).
Banta was arrested, posted bond (approximately $520,000 total), and was released pending trial (people.com).
🗣️ Context & Responses
According to the Parker County Sheriff’s Office, the victim initially resisted Banta’s suggestion of an abortion but later suspected her drink had been tampered with during a meeting in a Burleson coffee shop on October 17, 2024 (people.com).
A forensic review reportedly found “irregularities” in the data on Banta’s phone, consistent with tampering (dallasnews.com).
Banta’s attorney characterizes the case as a failed relationship, strongly denying any wrongdoing .
The Department of Justice and the Bureau of Prisons declined to comment on the specifics, but the bureau emphasized its commitment to accountability .
🔍 Why This Case Matters
Key Elements
Significance
Unprecedented charges
Use of reproductive drugs in alleged murder — capital murder charges show severity.
Tech angle
Remote data wiping highlights digital forensic challenges in modern investigations.
Legal precedent
A DOJ employee facing potential death penalty is rare and likely to draw intense scrutiny.
Would you like more details on the legal process, background on abortion-pill misuse in legal cases, or updates on Banta’s bail and trial? Let me know!