A U.S. Department of Justice employee has been charged in Texas with capital murder and evidence tampering after allegedly poisoning his pregnant girlfriend in an attempt to induce an abortion. The Parker County Sheriff’s Office confirmed the arrest of 38-year-old Justin Anthony Banta on June 6 following an extensive investigation.
Banta, who works in the DOJ’s IT department, was accused of secretly placing an abortion-inducing drug into his girlfriend’s drink after she refused his suggestion to terminate the pregnancy. The victim, whose name has not been publicly released, reported that she informed Banta of her pregnancy in September 2024. Banta offered to pay for an abortion and encouraged the use of “Plan C,” a drug commonly used to end pregnancies.
Despite his pressure, the victim chose to keep the baby and attended a medical appointment on October 17, where doctors confirmed the baby’s heartbeat and overall health. Later that day, she met Banta at a coffee shop in Tarrant County. She later told investigators she suspected Banta had spiked her drink during that meeting.
The next day, the woman began experiencing severe fatigue and heavy bleeding, leading her to seek emergency medical care. She tragically lost the baby on October 19. Authorities allege the miscarriage was a direct result of the tampered beverage.
During the investigation, Banta’s cell phone was seized. However, officials believe he remotely wiped the device, erasing critical evidence. As a result, Banta was charged in Parker County with tampering with physical evidence. The Texas Rangers also filed a capital murder charge in Tarrant County.
Texas law prohibits abortions after the detection of a fetal heartbeat, generally around five weeks, except in cases where the mother’s life is at risk. Banta’s alleged actions fall under Texas’s broad legal protections for unborn children.
