Texas man faces capital murder, accused of slipping girlfriend abortion pill

A Texas man is charged with murder for slipping his girlfriend the abortion pill Mifepristone

which led to a miscarriage. It's the first abortion-related murder case in the state

and it's bringing renewed attention to the ongoing national debate over whether a fetus should be legally defined as a person

According to an affidavit filed by the Texas Rangers, in September 2024

39-year-old Justin Bonta was informed by his then-girlfriend that she was pregnant

She wanted to keep the baby, but he didn't, offering to cover costs for an abortion

The next month, the two met at a coffee shop where Bonta is accused of putting a

Mifepristone abortion pill in his then-girlfriend's coffee and cookies. The next day, the woman reported she miscarried

The Texas Rangers charged Bonta with capital murder. That charge indicates the state agency is defining the fetus as human

In similar cases, men have been charged with lesser crimes for giving abortion pills to women

like assault of a pregnant woman. The difference in Bonta's case is the woman isn't being treated as the victim, but rather the fetus

This case is sparking a renewed debate since Roe v. Wade was overturned

overturned under Roe. It was defined and understood that an embryo did not have the same rights as a human but with it overturned legal questions over whether a fetus has constitutional rights are unclear The Texas Tribune spoke with a law professor who said this about the case

It has implications for all kinds of fertility medicine, and it has potential implications for criminal and immigration law

If you detain a pregnant woman, are you illegally detaining the fetus who did not commit a crime

It's about trying to establish fetal personhood. A Texas pro-life organization released this statement

saying Bonta's case highlights the continued threat of abortion pills in Texas

Abortion pills not only end the lives of unborn children, but also place women at serious risk

Justin Bonta should not be the cautionary tale that lawmakers ignore. his case highlights the urgent need for stronger safeguards to prevent abortion pills from falling

into the wrong hands. If Bonta is found guilty, it may not lead to binding interpretations

of a fetus having human rights due to the nature of the case. However, it could become legally

binding if Bonta is convicted by a jury and then he appeals. And if that appellate court rules

he can be convicted of murder of a fetus. Then the interpretation could become legally binding

The death penalty is an option on the table in Bonta's case