Overview

• Justin Anthony Banta, 38, is accused of secretly administering an abortion-inducing drug to his pregnant girlfriend, causing the loss of her six-week fetus
• He was arrested on June 6 by the Parker County Sheriff’s Office and booked into Parker County Jail on capital murder and evidence-tampering charges
• Medical records show the fetus had a strong heartbeat at an October 17, 2024 sonogram before the victim experienced heavy bleeding and lost the pregnancy two days later
• Authorities allege Banta used his DOJ-issued phone’s remote-reset function to delete messages and other data investigators consider crucial evidence
• The Texas Rangers filed the capital murder charge in Tarrant County and Parker County prosecutors lodged the tampering count as the case moves toward trial