An 18-year-old North Carolina woman is facing charges alongside her boyfriend after she reportedly gave birth on a toilet to a 31-week-old baby after using abortion drugs she ordered online.
Syeisha Johnson, 18, and Elijah Speight, 19, made their first appearance in Durham County court on Wednesday, where Judge David Hall set a $1,000 secure bond for each. According to court records cited by WNCN, both teens have since posted bail.
Johnson faces multiple charges, including assault inflicting serious bodily injury on an unborn child and assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill. Speight is charged with negligent child abuse inflicting serious bodily injury.
The case has drawn attention from pro-life advocates, including Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America President Marjorie Dannenfelser, who said it highlights concerns about the availability of abortion drugs through the mail.
“North Carolina law protects unborn babies from 12 weeks on, with exceptions for rape, incest and saving the life of the mother. Shipping abortion drugs through the mail is illegal,” Dannenfelser told The Christian Post.
Authorities arrived at Johnson’s home on July 29 after she gave birth on the bathroom toilet. First responders found the newborn inside the toilet and performed CPR before the child was taken to Duke Medical Center with a pulse.
According to a search warrant, Speight told officers at the scene that he was the child’s father. He also said the couple had learned from a doctor in June 2026 that Johnson was 20 weeks pregnant.
Johnson allegedly ordered abortion drugs mifepristone and misoprostol from Virginia, and Speight told investigators she began taking them only a few days before July 29.
Speaking with WRAL about the case, Durham County District Attorney Satana Deberry reiterated her position on abortion.
“I’ve been on the record, over and over again, saying that I believe a woman has the right to choose and has the right to make decisions about her own body,” Deberry said. “And we will review the evidence in this case in that light.”
The case has intensified debate over the risks of making abortion drugs available online and through the mail.
Pro-life advocates like Dannenfelser have warned about the dangers of women using abortion drugs without first undergoing an in-person medical evaluation to determine gestational age or rule out an ectopic pregnancy.
“With no in-person medical evaluation at all, screening is impossible, and research indicates not an insignificant percentage of women will underestimate how far along they are,” Dannenfelser told CP. “This is very dangerous for the woman and increases the odds of a live birth.”
Samantha Kamman is a reporter for The Christian Post. She can be reached at: [email protected]. Follow her on Twitter: @Samantha_Kamman
