A North Carolina teenager is facing multiple charges after allegedly attempting to abort her pregnancy with medication and subsequently giving birth in a toilet, according to prosecutors. Syeisha Johnson, 18, is accused of taking mifepristone and misoprostol in late July in an effort to end her pregnancy, despite being in her third trimester.
According to her arrest warrant, Johnson ordered the abortion medication in Virginia. Prosecutors allege that she gave birth on July 29, placing the newborn in a toilet for several minutes. Authorities stated that first responders found the infant with a pulse, administered CPR, and transported the baby to Duke Medical Center for treatment. The baby, born at 31 weeks, survived the incident.
Johnson has been charged with child abuse, assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill, and assault inflicting serious bodily injury on an unborn child. The baby's father, Elijah Speight, 19, is charged with negligent child abuse inflicting serious bodily injury. Court documents indicate Speight called 911 after discovering the child and informed officers he was the father. He allegedly stated that Johnson was aware of her pregnancy, as a doctor had informed them in June that she was 20 weeks pregnant.
During their first court appearance, Johnson's attorney, public defender Barbara Lagemann, argued that her client did not commit a crime under North Carolina law. Lagemann contended that a state statute protects pregnant women from prosecution for assaulting their unborn children, asserting that the law requires the alleged victim to be living at the time of the assault, which, she argued, necessitates being born.
Durham County District Attorney Satana Deberry expressed a degree of conflict regarding the prosecution, stating her belief in a woman's right to choose and make decisions about her body. Deberry indicated that her office would review the evidence in that light. She also noted that the $1,000 bonds set for the teenagers suggested her office did not view them as a danger to the public, emphasizing their youth and the importance of family support for their defense. Deberry stated her goal is to uncover the truth and achieve justice, with decisions about the case to follow the evidence review.