logo
Man accused of capital murder, tampering with evidence in death of unborn child, Parker County Sheriff's Office says

Man accused of capital murder, tampering with evidence in death of unborn child, Parker County Sheriff's Office says

CBS News2 days ago

A man who works in IT for the U.S. Department of Justice has been arrested in connection with the death of his unborn child and tampering with evidence, the Parker County Sheriff's Office announced Monday.
Justin Anthony Banta, 38, was taken into custody on Friday, June 6, for capital murder following a months-long investigation into the death of his ex-girlfriend's unborn child, the sheriff's office said.
Victim says Banta forced her to have an abortion
In September 2024, Banta's then-girlfriend reported that he intentionally added "Plan C," an abortion drug, to her drink so that she'd have an abortion without her knowledge.
She told authorities that while she was still in a romantic relationship with Banta, she found out she was pregnant and Banta proposed to cover the cost of an abortion and suggested the couple order "Plan C" online, the sheriff's office said in a news release. But she told Banta that she wanted to keep the baby.
In October 2024, when the victim was about six weeks pregnant, she went for a sonogram and learned the baby "had a strong heartbeat, displayed good vital signs and was said to be healthy by her doctor," according to Parker County Sheriff Russ Authier.
Later that same day, the victim said she and Banta met at a coffee shop in Tarrant County, where she shared her suspicion that Banta "secretly added abortion-inducing pills to her drink without her knowledge or permission," the news release said.
A day after their coffee shop outing, the victim began to suffer from fatigue and heavy bleeding, leading to an emergency room visit. The victim told authorities she lost the baby on Oct. 19, which she believed was a result of Banta slipping her "Plan C" in her drink.
Justin Anthony Banta, 38, arrested for capital murder and tampering with evidence.
Parker County Sheriff's Office
Banta allegedly deletes cellphone evidence
The Parker County Sheriff's Office said Banta was interviewed about the incident, and his cellphone was collected as evidence in the case.
Investigators believe Banta, who works in the IT Department of the U.S. Department of Justice, later accessed the phone remotely and "performed a 'reset,' thereby deleting crucial evidence related to the case."
Investigators obtained a felony arrest warrant for Banta, who was booked in the Parker County Jail for tampering with physical evidence and a charge from the Texas Rangers for capital murder, which has been filed in Tarrant County.
The investigation is still ongoing, and the sheriff's office said the cases against Banta are awaiting prosecution.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Pulse massacre survivors revisit the nightclub before it's razed for a permanent memorial
Pulse massacre survivors revisit the nightclub before it's razed for a permanent memorial

Washington Post

time43 minutes ago

  • Washington Post

Pulse massacre survivors revisit the nightclub before it's razed for a permanent memorial

ORLANDO, Fla. — Survivors and family members of the 49 victims killed in the Pulse nightclub massacre nine years ago got their first chance Wednesday to walk through the long-shuttered, LGBTQ+-friendly Florida venue before it is razed and replaced with a permanent memorial to what was once the worst U.S. mass shooting in modern times. In small groups over four days, survivors and family members of those killed can spend half an hour inside the space where Omar Mateen opened fire during a Latin night celebration on June 12, 2016, leaving 49 dead and 53 wounded. Mateen, who had pledged allegiance to the Islamic State group, was killed after a three-hour standoff with police. At the time, it was the worst mass shooting in modern U.S. history. The Pulse shooting's death toll was surpassed the following year when 58 people were killed and more than 850 were injured among a crowd of 22,000 at a country music festival in Las Vegas. The city of Orlando purchased the Pulse property in 2023 for $2 million and plans to build a $12 million permanent memorial that will open in 2027. Those efforts follow a multiyear, botched attempt by a private foundation run by the club's former owner. The existing structure will be razed later this year. Christine Leinonen, whose son, Christopher 'Drew' Leinonen was killed in the mass shooting, was among the first groups to go inside the club on Wednesday. Leinonen, who has been a fierce critic of the police response, the investigation into the mass shooting and the nightclub's owner, said she wanted to see the space where her son died. 'It's not closure. It's pragmatic for me because I needed to see the space. I needed to see how big it was,' Leinonen said afterward. 'I would have regretted it if I didn't go through it.' The opportunity to go inside the nightclub comes on the ninth anniversary of the mass shooting. Outside, oversize photos of the victims, rainbow-colored flags and flowers have hung on fences in a makeshift memorial, and the site has attracted visitors from around the globe. But very few people other than investigators have been inside the structure. Around 250 survivors and family members of those killed responded to the city's invitation to walk through the nightclub this week. Families of the 49 people who were killed were able to visit the site with up to six people in their group, and survivors could bring one person with them. The club had been cleaned and lighting has been installed ahead of the walk-throughs. The people invited to visit were given the chance to ask FBI agents who investigated the massacre about what happened. They weren't allowed to take photos or video inside. On Wednesday, a security screen shielded the entrance to the club as the visitors got off a small bus and walked into a white tent at the venue's entrance. Some of those who had planned to come backed out at the last minute. Brandon Wolf, who hid in a bathroom as the gunman opened fire, said he wasn't going to visit, primarily because he now lives in Washington. He said he wanted to remember Pulse as it was before. 'I will say that the site of the tragedy is where I feel closest to the people who were stolen from me,' said Wolf, who is now national press secretary for the Human Rights Campaign, a LGBTQ+ advocacy group. 'For survivors, the last time they were in that space was the worst night possible. It will be really hard to be in that space again.' Mental health counselors planned to be on hand to talk to those who walk through the building. Survivors and family members had hoped to have a permanent memorial in place by now. An earlier effort by a private foundation to build one floundered, and the organization disbanded in 2023. Barbara and Rosario Poma and business owner Michael Panaggio previously owned the property, and Barbara Poma was the executive director of the onePulse Foundation — the nonprofit that had been leading efforts to build a memorial and museum. She stepped down as executive director in 2022 and then left the organization in 2023 amid criticism that she wanted to sell instead of donate the property. There were also complaints about the lack of progress despite millions of dollars being raised. The original project, unveiled in 2019 by the onePulse Foundation, called for a museum and permanent memorial costing $45 million. That estimate eventually soared to $100 million. The city of Orlando has since outlined a more modest proposal and scrapped plans for a museum. 'The building may come down, and we may finally get a permanent memorial, but that doesn't change the fact that this community has been scarred for life,' Wolf said. 'There are people inside the community who still need and will continue to need support and resources.' ___ Follow Mike Schneider on the social platform Bluesky: @ .

Wilmington developer names new affordable housing project after late nephew killed in drunken driving crash
Wilmington developer names new affordable housing project after late nephew killed in drunken driving crash

CBS News

timean hour ago

  • CBS News

Wilmington developer names new affordable housing project after late nephew killed in drunken driving crash

Community members gathered in Wilmington, Delaware, Wednesday for a groundbreaking ceremony on the site of what will soon be 14 new affordable townhomes. The project will be located in the city's Northside community. "I grew up in the city of Wilmington. I was born here," Donald Thompson said. Thompson is the founder of Truth in Actions Inc., the company behind the project. "It feels great to give back to my home, my community, my city," he said. For Thompson, the project is deeply personal. Thompson is calling it Raw Story Drive, in honor of his late nephew, Rick Anthony Williams, who was hit and killed at age 22 by a drunken driver in 2017. "To me, it's a proud moment for the housing, but a sad moment," Thompson said. "To me, this is a consolation. I would rather have him here and to be able to be there for him ... like he was for me. ... This is a consolation, this is something I'm doing in lieu of. I would rather him be here." "Rick, he was really an angel on earth," said Coretta Williams, Rick's mother and Thompson's sister. Williams says her son had a giving spirit, and she called this project a great way to honor his life. "I think that it's awesome. I think that it shows forth what we all should be doing, and that's trying to help. Trying to give," she said. Wilmington City Council President Trippi Congo said the area needs more affordable housing and this project fills a critical gap. "Of course, they help financially, but I think it's so much bigger than that. They help breathe a new spirit, a new life into the city," he said. The project is expected to be completed by 2027.

PA bill would create grant program to help police solve violent crimes
PA bill would create grant program to help police solve violent crimes

Yahoo

timean hour ago

  • Yahoo

PA bill would create grant program to help police solve violent crimes

PENNSYLVANIA (WTAJ) — A Pennsylvania senator is hoping to introduce legislation that would help provide law enforcement with tools to help solve serious crimes like homicide. Senator Joe Picozzi (R-Philadelphia County) argues that in Pennsylvania, over a quarter of homicides go unsolved, and only over one-third of crimes like robbery and burglary are solved. In a memo to lawmakers, he claims these problems can be attributed to a shortage of police personnel and the lack of investment in technology and tools that law enforcement needs. That's why he plans to introduce the Violent Incident Clearance and Technological Investigative Methods (VICTIM) Act. The proposed legislation would create a grant program through the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency. Police agencies could then apply for grants that would be used to help solve those violent crimes. PA bills will expand access to opioid overdose reversal agents Law enforcement could use the grants for the following: Hire and retain officers Upgrade technology Ensure compliance with reporting requirements Picozzi said that the legislation is 'critical' and will provide the following results: Better public safety, because higher clearance rates lead to the apprehension and incapacitation of violent criminals. Less crime, because solving homicides and other violent crimes sends a clear message that perpetrators will be held accountable. Community trust in law enforcement, because improved clearance rates demonstrate the effectiveness of police in solving crimes and maintaining public safety. More justice for victims and families because solving homicides and other violent crimes provides closure and justice, helping victims and families heal. 'This bill supports our law enforcement by increasing the tools available to them to solve more violent crime, and by solving more violent crimes, we also build trust in our justice system. Ultimately, we make neighborhoods…safer places to live and raise our families,' Picozzi added. You can read more about the proposed Victims' Act here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store