A Texas man has been arrested after allegedly putting an abortifacient drug in his pregnant girlfriend’s water bottle, killing their unborn child.
The Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office announced in a press release Wednesday, May 20, that John Ruben Demeter he was charged with one count of abortion and injury to a child three months after his initial arrest.
“[H]”he secretly administered an abortifacient drug to a pregnant woman without her knowledge or consent, which led to the death of her unborn child,” said a press release.
Authorities first heard about the situation in February when a woman sought medical attention because she believed she had miscarried.
Montgomery County Sheriff Wesley Doolittle he said that during a press conference on May 20, an investigation was started on this matter, and it was found that Demeter, 25, got an abortion drug online and sent it to his home.
Demeter is accused of crushing the pill and mixing it with at least one drink consumed by the woman.
“He surreptitiously crushed that drug and mixed it in a water bottle and IV fluid pack, and this was done with the specific intent to cause the death of the child,” Doolittle said during the press conference, per KTRK.
It is believed that the woman was 14 weeks pregnant when she consumed the drug and the unborn child was killed, according to the police.
“That baby, Presley Mae, was stillborn at the hospital, weighing 55 grams,” the official said.
Demeter’s girlfriend alleges that he poisoned her to end the pregnancy, according to KTRK. The woman told investigators that Demeter wanted her to abort their child and offered to pay for travel expenses to have the abortion out of state.
Investigators believe Demeter gave the woman mifepristone, which is illegal under Texas’ abortion ban.
“These allegations describe very disturbing and very damaging behavior,” the prosecutor said Laura Hill said during a press conference. “Our responsibility is to carefully examine the evidence, apply the law as it is written, and seek justice for the victims and this community.”
Demeter was first arrested on February 23 on charges of aggravated assault. His charges have been upgraded to two counts, meaning he could face up to 10 years in prison if convicted.
Authorities said the latest charges “stem from allegations involving the administration of drugs without consent and resulting injuries suspected in the investigation.”
“This case represents an allegation of intentional deception that resulted in dire consequences,” Montgomery County District Attorney. Mike Holley said in a press release. “The Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office will continue to pursue justice based on the facts, evidence and the laws of the State of Texas.”
It is not yet clear whether Demeter has filed or retained legal counsel. The Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office did not immediately respond Us Weeklyrequest for comment on the case.
