Benbrook has found itself in the middle of a tragic and disturbing story.
A man is facing capital murder and evidence tampering charges after allegedly poisoning his pregnant girlfriend’s drink with abortion drugs during a meet-up at a local Black Rifle Coffee Company.
The incident stems from a relationship that began just weeks before the woman discovered she was pregnant in September 2024. According to affidavits, 38-year-old Justin Banta, who is married, allegedly pressured the woman to terminate the pregnancy, despite her saying she wanted to keep the baby.
After an ultrasound confirmed a healthy pregnancy, Banta reportedly invited the woman to meet at the Benbrook coffee shop. Security footage shows him arriving early, purchasing a drink, and stirring in a white substance before handing it to her. She drank it. Hours later, she experienced extreme bleeding and, days after, miscarried. Investigators later confirmed that the drink—and cookies he gave her—tested positive for abortion drugs Mifepristone and Misoprostol.
Banta, a federal employee, denies drugging her. He admitted ordering abortion pills but claimed he threw them out. Shortly after the miscarriage, he returned to her home, left a sympathy card, and walked into a planned meeting with police. Although he initially surrendered his phone, the data was later wiped remotely, raising concerns.
This case has stirred intense reactions across the community. Some residents asked if the coffee shop was at fault. It wasn’t. Black Rifle’s surveillance footage was key to the investigation. Others debated the issue of legal double standards and privacy concerns. But for many in Benbrook, it’s the heartbreaking nature of the act itself that lingers most.
The case now sits with the courts, where a grand jury will determine whether the capital murder charge will hold. For now, Benbrook residents are left stunned, grieving a terrible act that unfolded quietly in one of their own neighborhood spots.
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