Texas DOJ Employee Accused of Administering Abortion Pills

An employee at the Texas Department of Justice is facing serious allegations involving the abortion of a fetus through deception. Justin Anthony Banta, 38, has been charged with capital murder and tampering with physical evidence after his arrest on June 6, which followed months of investigation.

According to the Sheriff’s Office, Banta’s girlfriend reported that he deliberately added abortion pills to her drink. She discovered her pregnancy in September 2024 and mentioned it to Banta, who reportedly suggested that he cover the abortion costs and ordered pills online, despite her expressing a desire to keep the baby.

On October 17, during a sonogram appointment at six weeks pregnant, the woman learned from her doctor that the fetus had a strong heartbeat and was healthy. Later that day, while meeting Banta at a coffee shop in Tarrant County, she suspects he secretly spiked her drink with abortion pills.

The following day, she experienced severe fatigue and bleeding, leading her to seek emergency medical care. By October 19, she reported losing the baby, believing that Banta was responsible for the incident.

Investigators spoke with Banta and collected cell phones as part of their evidence gathering. There’s concern that he might try to erase data remotely to compromise the investigation, especially given his position in the IT department of the DOJ.

A felony arrest warrant has been issued for Banta. He has been booked on charges related to both tampering with evidence and capital murder in Tarrant County. The ongoing case remains active, and law enforcement has kept certain details under wraps for now.

Officials from the coffee shop are cooperating with the investigation, which is being supported by multiple law enforcement agencies, including the Texas Rangers and the FBI. As of the latest update, there has been no comment from the DOJ on the situation.