An Illinois resident, Emerson Evans, 31, has been accused of administering abortion-inducing drugs to his girlfriend without her knowledge or consent, leading to a miscarriage. Evans was taken into custody and is currently held at the McLean County Detention Facility, awaiting a hearing, as per a statement from the Bloomington police department.
The police were alerted to the incident on Friday when they received a call about a pregnant woman experiencing a medical emergency at a residence in Bloomington, a city located approximately 140 miles southwest of Chicago. The emergency turned out to be a miscarriage, according to the police.
Local media outlets, citing court documents, reported that when the police arrived at the woman’s apartment around 5 p.m. on Friday, they found her in distress in the bathroom, with a significant amount of blood present. The woman, who was reportedly about seven weeks pregnant, informed the police that Evans had expressed his desire to terminate the pregnancy.
Evans reportedly told the police that he was assisting in “making the decision for her,” and believed that she was aware he was giving her the abortion-inducing pills. He also allegedly informed investigators that he had purchased the drug mifepristone from a “girl on campus” for approximately $50, although it was not immediately clear which campus he was referring to.
Evans has been charged with two counts of intentional homicide of an unborn child, according to the police. Under Illinois law, this crime carries the same potential punishment as a conviction for first-degree murder, which is 20 to 60 years in prison.