Department of Justice employee accused of secretly giving pregnant girlfriend abortion drug at coffee shop

PARKER COUNTY, Texas (TCN) -- A 38-year-old man stands accused of killing his pregnant girlfriend’s unborn child by intentionally drugging her drink without her knowledge.

According to the Parker County Sheriff's Office, in September 2024, the victim said she found out she was pregnant. She told her then-boyfriend, Justin Banta, about the pregnancy, and he allegedly offered to cover the cost of an abortion and said they should order Plan B, commonly known as the abortion drug. The victim, however, said she wanted to keep the baby.

The victim went in for a sonogram on Oct. 17, 2024, and learned the unborn child "had a strong heartbeat, displayed good vital signs, and was said to be healthy by her doctor." According to the sheriff’s office, the victim said she met Banta later that day at a coffee shop in Tarrant County. The victim told authorities that she believed "Banta had secretly added abortion-inducing pills to her drink without her knowledge or permission."

On Oct. 18, 2024, the victim reportedly experienced extreme fatigue and heavy bleeding. Authorities said she went to the emergency room and lost the pregnancy the following day. The victim alleged it was caused by drugs Banta had secretly put in her drink.

According to the sheriff's office, investigators interviewed Banta and collected his cellphone as evidence. Deputies allege that Banta, who works in IT for the U.S. Department of Justice, "later accessed the phone remotely and performed a 'reset,'" deleting information related to the investigation.

Banta was arrested on June 6 and faces charges of tampering with physical evidence and capital murder.

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