Bloomington police arrested a 31-year-old man accused of secretly giving his girlfriend abortion pills, resulting in the termination of her pregnancy. The McLean County State’s Attorney’s Office has charged Emerson Evans of Normal with two counts of intentional homicide of an unborn child.
Prosecutors said Evans allegedly placed the abortion pill Mifepristone in his girlfriend’s body without her knowledge. According to court documents, police were called on Friday around 5 p.m. to an apartment in South Bloomington. When officers arrived, they found a woman in the bathroom crying and a significant amount of blood.
The fetus was reportedly discovered in the toilet. The woman told investigators she was about seven weeks pregnant. She also said Evans had expressed that he wanted her to terminate the pregnancy. Evans allegedly told police he was “making the decision for her” and believed she understood he was giving her the pills.
He admitted to investigators that he bought the mifepristone for $50 from “a girl on campus,” according to the charging documents. Evans is currently being held at the McLean County Jail and is awaiting a detention hearing scheduled for Monday, according to WEEK.
Bloomington Police Chief Jamal Simington released a statement on the case. “We are again saddened by the alleged criminal actions that resulted in harm to others. It is my hope that the mother involved in the matter fully recovers and has the resources and support of this strong community in the future.
The officers and detectives worked diligently and honorably through this very tough investigation,” Simington said. Under Illinois law, intentional homicide of an unborn child carries severe penalties. Similar to first-degree murder, the offense is punishable by 20 to 60 years in prison, and in some cases, a sentence of life in prison.
Authorities said the case remains under investigation. The Bloomington Police Department is working alongside the McLean County Coroner’s Office to determine further details surrounding the incident. Officials have urged anyone with information to come forward. Detective Brock Merritt is leading the investigation and can be reached at 309-434-2359 or by email at [email protected]
The case has drawn attention both for its disturbing allegations and for the rare charge of intentional homicide of an unborn child. While Illinois law permits abortion, prosecutors emphasized that the charges stem from the lack of consent and the alleged deception in administering the pill. Evans could face decades in prison if convicted.