Young NC couple arrested after teen allegedly took abortion pills in 3rd trimester

Lexi Solomon, The News & Observer (Raleigh) on Aug 5, 2026

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DURHAM, N.C. — Two Durham teens were arrested Tuesday after the female teen allegedly took abortion-inducing medication while 31 weeks pregnant.

Syeisha Jadan Johnson, 18, is charged with assault inflicting serious bodily injury on an unborn child, assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill and negligent child abuse inflicting serious bodily injury, court records show.

Elijah Jshaun Speight, 19, the child’s father, is charged with negligent child abuse inflicting serious bodily injury, according to court records.

Johnson is accused of taking mifepristone and misoprostol July 26 “in an attempt to terminate her pregnancy early,” her arrest warrant states. Mifepristone and misoprostol are two pills commonly prescribed to terminate a pregnancy.

Speight told police the couple found out about Johnson’s pregnancy when she was 20 weeks pregnant in June, according to search warrants in the case. Johnson then allegedly ordered mifepristone online from Virginia and began taking the medication a few days before the birth, the warrants state.

“On July 29, 2026 Ms. Johnson began having abdominal pain and sat down during the day to help with the pain,” a detective wrote. “She sat on the toilet and gave birth to a child.”

It’s not clear who called 911, though Speight and Johnson’s mother were both present when police arrived, according to the search warrants. Speight told officers the medication could be found in Johnson’s purse, which search warrants indicate police couldn’t find at the home or in her hospital room.

The child weighed just under 5.5 pounds and required CPR when first responders arrived, according to the arrest warrant.

When is abortion legal in NC?

Abortion is legal in North Carolina up to 12 weeks’ gestation. The state requires parental consent for minors seeking abortions; Johnson turned 18 in June, according to her arrest warrant.

By 31 weeks of development, a fetus has typically “finished most major development,” though the lungs aren’t fully formed until about 36 weeks, according to the Mayo Clinic.

Johnson and Speight were being held without bail as of Wednesday morning. Both are set to make their first appearance in court Wednesday.

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