Texas man charged for secretly inducing abortion that caused stillbirth

By Michael Gryboski, Editor Tuesday, May 26, 2026

A Texas man has been indicted for allegedly giving a pregnant woman an abortion-inducing drug without her knowledge, resulting in the death of her unborn baby.

A grand jury in Montgomery County has indicted 25-year-old Jon Rueben Demeter on charges of performance of an abortion and injury to a child. Both charges are first-degree felonies and stem from an investigation conducted by authorities with the local sheriff’s office and the district attorney’s office. 

Montgomery County District Attorney Mike Holley said in a statement that the case “represents allegations of deliberate deception that resulted in devastating consequences.”

“The Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office will continue to pursue justice based on the facts, the evidence, and the laws of the State of Texas,” Holley stated.

“We are grateful for the extensive investigative work conducted by the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office and the careful review performed throughout the grand jury process.”

In February, Demeter allegedly crushed a mifepristone pill, mixed it with an electrolyte drink mix and gave it to a woman who was about 14 weeks pregnant, causing her to deliver a stillborn baby.

“These allegations describe conduct that is both deeply troubling and profoundly harmful,” Chief Prosecutor Laura Hill said. “Our responsibility is to carefully evaluate the evidence, apply the law as written, and seek justice on behalf of victims and this community.”

The case is believed to be the first time someone in Texas has been criminally charged with providing an abortion since the state banned the procedure in nearly all circumstances, according to Houston Public Media. Holley noted that regardless of abortion laws, “it has never been lawful for someone to perform an abortion in a manner against the woman and against her consent, of this nature,” HPM reported.

The Demeter case comes as litigation continues over whether the U.S. Food and Drug Administration can allow abortion pills to be distributed by mail, especially to states with abortion restrictions.

Earlier this month, the Supreme Court paused a 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals decision that had prohibited the mailing of such pills to Louisiana.