MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Texas — A 25-year-old Texas man is facing serious felony charges after prosecutors say he secretly gave abortion medication to a pregnant woman without her consent, resulting in the death of her unborn child.
According to officials with the Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office, John Ruben Demeter has been charged with illegal performance of an abortion and injury to a child following an investigation into the February incident.
Authorities say the case began when a pregnant woman sought medical treatment after she believed she had unknowingly ingested abortion-inducing medication. Investigators later determined the woman was approximately 14 weeks pregnant at the time.
During a press conference, Montgomery County Sheriff Wesley Doolittle said investigators believe Demeter obtained abortion medication online and had it delivered to his residence before allegedly crushing the pills and secretly mixing them into a drink.
Officials claim the medication was placed inside a water bottle mixed with a Liquid I.V. hydration packet before being given to the woman.
“He covertly crushed that medication and mixed it in a water bottle,” Sheriff Doolittle said while describing the allegations during the investigation.
Authorities say the unborn child, identified by officials as Presley Mae, was later stillborn at a hospital.
Investigators also allege the defendant previously encouraged the woman to terminate the pregnancy and had offered to pay for travel expenses so she could obtain an abortion outside Texas, where the procedure would have been legal.
Initially, Demeter was arrested in February on a charge of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon after deputies responded to reports of a suspicious miscarriage. Prosecutors have since upgraded the case, filing two first-degree felony charges connected to the unborn child’s death.
Officials stressed that the charges are specifically tied to the alleged non-consensual administration of medication and the resulting harm described in the investigation.
“This case represents allegations of deliberate deception that resulted in devastating consequences,” Montgomery County District Attorney Mike Holley said in a statement released by prosecutors.
Prosecutor Laura Hill also described the allegations as “deeply troubling and profoundly harmful,” adding that the office intends to pursue the case based on available evidence and Texas law.
Law enforcement officials noted the case may be among the first prosecutions of its kind under Texas’ current abortion-related statutes, though prosecutors did not confirm whether it is officially the first statewide.
Demeter remains in custody at the Montgomery County Jail. If convicted on the current charges, he could face significant prison time under Texas law.
The investigation remains ongoing, and authorities say additional details may be released as court proceedings continue.
