In a heartbreaking case in Texas, a 38-year-old man named J. Banta is charged with capital murder and evidence tampering after slipping a tablet into his pregnant girlfriend’s drink, causing the death of her unborn child. A months-long inquiry led to Banta’s arrest on Friday, June 6.
According to the sheriff’s office, Banta’s then-girlfriend informed investigators that she fell pregnant in September 2024, just one month after starting a sexual involvement with him. While Banta allegedly advised stopping the pregnancy and offered to buy the “Plan C” medicine, his girlfriend made it obvious that she wanted to keep the baby. In October 2024, when the woman was about six weeks pregnant, she went to the doctor, where a scan revealed a strong fetal heartbeat and healthy vitals. Later that day, the woman met Banta at a coffee shop to continue discussing her pregnancy.
Without her awareness, Banta arrived early and bought her a drink, into which he covertly added the Plan C pill, which contains an active component known to medically terminate early pregnancies. The woman consumed it without suspecting foul play. The next day, she experienced tremendous exhaustion and heavy bleeding, prompting her to visit the emergency department, where she miscarried. She later informed police that she thought Banta had something to do with her loss, especially considering their previous debate about whether to maintain the pregnancy.
After reporting the occurrence, officials conducted a thorough investigation. Detectives interviewed Banta and took his cellphone as evidence. However, according to the sheriff’s office, Banta remotely accessed the device and performed a factory reset, potentially wiping vital information such as communications, search history, and transaction records. According to sources, Banta worked in the IT department of the United States Department of Justice.
Investigators believe the incident was a premeditated attempt to destroy evidence, resulting in an allegation of tampering with physical evidence. Experts recommended that further evidence, such as security footage from the coffee shop, receipts, text messages, and medical records, could assist in establishing a case against Banta. The Texas Rangers joined the investigation and filed a capital murder charge, while county officials acquired a second warrant for evidence tampering allegations.
Banta was arrested on June 6 and put into the county jail but was later freed on a $520,000 bond. If convicted of capital murder, Banta faces life in prison without parole or the death sentence under Texas law. Banta’s defense has flatly refuted the allegations, citing a “romantic relationship that went awry.” They steadfastly maintained his client’s innocence and stated that they intend to fight the claims through the legal system. Banta’s defense team expressed confidence that once the case is heard in court, the truth will be out and their client will be vindicated of what they described as baseless claims.
Authorities complimented the coffee shop’s employees for their assistance during the inquiry, implying that surveillance footage and employee testimony may have played an important part in Banta’s arrest. A representative for the US Department of Justice did not immediately react to questions on Banta’s work status, making it unclear whether he is still employed by the federal agency.
The allegations against Banta are expected to proceed, and prosecutors are gearing up for what could be a high-profile trial. The girlfriend, whose identity has not been revealed, is receiving ongoing support as she recovers physically and emotionally from the loss. As the case moves forward, the central question remains: will justice be served for a kid who was never born—and a woman who was never provided the opportunity to choose?
