North Carolina teen parents charged after 18-year-old allegedly took abortion pills while 31 weeks pregnant
August 10, 2026
By: Ben Bokun, originally published August 6, 2026, Fox8.com/news
DURHAM, N.C. (WNCN) — An 18-year-old Durham woman is accused of trying to kill her unborn baby by taking abortion medication at 31 weeks pregnant. The child’s father is also charged.
Durham police allege Syeisha Johnson took mifepristone and misoprostol in an attempt to terminate her pregnancy early.
Investigators said that caused her child to be born at 31 weeks with a weight under five and a half pounds.
Now, Johnson is charged with assault inflicting serious bodily injury on an unborn child and assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill.
Both the mother and the child’s father, 19-year-old Elijah Speight, are also charged with negligent child abuse inflicting serious bodily injury.
“Speight explained to officers on scene that he was the father of the child,” a search warrant said. “He stated in June of 2026, he and Ms. Johnson were informed by their doctor that she was 20 weeks pregnant.”
According to the search warrants, the child had a pulse when first responders arrived. The child was given CPR and transported to Duke Medical Center for treatment.
The warrants allege Johnson ordered the abortion medication from Virginia. On July 29th, investigators said Johnson sat on the toilet and gave birth before leaving the child in the toilet for several minutes.
The defense also said Johnson called 911 herself. Neither of the parents in this case had any previous criminal charges.
North Carolina generally legalizes abortion during the first 12 weeks of a woman’s pregnancy.
In a rare decision by Judge Dave Hall, cameras were not allowed in the courtroom for Wednesday’s first appearances.
Johnson and Speight made their first appearance in Durham County court on Wednesday when a judge handed them a $1,000 secured bond each. Court records show both have posted bail.
“These two young people are not a danger to our community,” Durham County District Attorney Satana Deberry said. “They are very young and … it’s important that they be with their families and be able to defend themselves appropriately. My goal always is to get to the truth and to justice and once we review the evidence, we’ll know where we’re going to go from here.”
The defense argued that North Carolina statute 23.7 protects pregnant women from being prosecuted if they’re charged with assaulting their own unborn child.
“Statute does require that the alleged ‘victim’ be living at the time of the assault,” Assistant Public Defender Barbara Lagemann said. “In order to be living, one must be born.”
Ben Bokun is an American reporter working for WNCN-TV as a reporter and MMJ.