New details revealed about NC teens charged with abortion attempt in 3rd trimester

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

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DURHAM, N.C. — Two Durham teens charged in an alleged medication abortion attempt appeared in court for the first time Wednesday morning.

Syeisha Johnson, 18, and Elijah Speight, 19, were arrested Tuesday, six days after Durham police say Johnson gave birth to a 31-week-old baby in a toilet at her home, The News & Observer previously reported.

Johnson is facing multiple charges, including assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill. Speight is charged with negligent child abuse inflicting serious bodily injury.

Police were called to Johnson’s home July 29 after the birth, according to court documents.

Speight allegedly told the officers the couple learned of the pregnancy in June, when Johnson was about 20 weeks along, search warrants state. She ordered the pills online and began taking them a few days prior to the birth, he said, according to the warrants.

Firefighters had to perform CPR on the baby, who had regained a pulse by the time he was taken to the hospital, according to search warrants.

What the defense attorney argued

Abortions are legal up to 12 weeks in North Carolina, with exceptions for rape, incest, life-limiting fetal abnormalities and medical emergencies, according to state law.

Minors cannot obtain an abortion in North Carolina without parental permission; Johnson would have turned 18 in June, her arrest warrant indicates.

Judge David Hall set Johnson and Speight’s bail bonds at $1,000 secured each during a brief first appearance hearing Wednesday, finding neither teen had a criminal background and neither posed a danger to the community.

Assistant Public Defender Barbara Lagemann argued in court that the law exempts pregnant women from being prosecuted for an assault on their own unborn child and that Johnson wasn’t negligent because she called 911 after the birth.

On the charge of assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill, the public defender said that the law requires the alleged victim “to be living at the time of the assault.”

“Miss Johnson did exactly what we would expect her to do, which is getting care for her child,” Lagemann said.

None of Johnson’s family members were present in the courtroom.

Speight’s mother and sibling were present, but Assistant Public Defender Owen FitzGerald advised them not to speak.

‘We will review the evidence,’ DA says

Durham County District Attorney Satana Deberry told The N&O she had not yet been able to review evidence in the case, but would make a decision on whether to pursue the charges after doing so.

“What I can say is that I have been on the record over and over again saying I believe a woman has the right to choose and has the right to make decisions about her own body, and we will review the evidence in this case in that light,” Deberry said.

Deberry said she had no issue with Johnson and Speight’s bond amounts.

“They are very young, and (it’s) important they be with their families and be able to defend themselves appropriately,” she said.

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