Louisiana man charged with drugging pregnant woman with abortion pill

A Louisiana man, Jamelle Kelly, 39, was arrested on felony charges for allegedly administering the abortion pill mifepristone to a pregnant woman without her consent, leading to an emergency delivery. The Carencro Police Department reported that Kelly faces charges of first-degree feticide and domestic abuse of a pregnant woman. The victim, who has not been named, underwent an emergency C-section at 23 weeks of gestation and the infant is currently hospitalized. The investigation began after police learned of the incident late last month. This case is part of a broader concern regarding abortion coercion, which has been highlighted by anti-abortion activists advocating for reinstated safety protocols for mifepristone prescriptions. Since the FDA removed in-person screening requirements in 2023, there have been two other reported cases of coerced abortion in Louisiana. U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy has called for immediate reinstatement of in-person visit requirements for mifepristone, emphasizing the need to protect women and infants from potential risks associated with the drug.