A Texas man was indicted this week for allegedly giving his pregnant wife abortion-inducing medications without her knowledge.
Prosecutors said Mason Herring, 38, the managing partner of Herring Law Firm, put the drug in water that he gave to his wife on more than one instance. The couple had split in early 2022, and the woman discovered she was pregnant in February, according to KTRK.
Harris County assistant prosecutor Anthony Osso said Herring was not happy about his wife’s pregnancy. Nevertheless, he lectured his wife about keeping hydrated while pregnant, KTRK reported.
According to Osso, on March 17 Herring gave his pregnant wife breakfast and water — and insisted he was not going to leave until she drinks the water.
“She thought it was odd. She thought the water was cloudy. She questioned him a little bit, but, nonetheless, did drink the water, and then he leaves and takes that cup,” Osso alleged.
Herring’s wife reportedly became seriously ill after the encounter, and doctors could not identify the cause. KTRK reported that the woman became suspicious of Herring, and instead of drinking the water he gave her, she kept it as evidence.
At some point, Herring’s wife installed surveillance cameras at their home even though she was no longer living there. Osso said Herring’s wife searched trash cans on April 24 and discovered Cyrux, a medication that contains Misoprostol — a drug that induces abortions.
According to KTRK, it was two days later when Herring was filmed putting a powder into his wife’s water. The wife contacted authorities, who arrested Herring on charges of assaulting a pregnant person and assault-force induction to have an abortion.
Six water samples were sent to a lab in Oklahoma which reportedly determined that at least two of them contained Misoprostol.
KTRK reported that Herring’s wife gave birth to a girl. While the baby was born a bit early, she was said to be doing well.
Herring is due in court on December 2.
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[Featured image: Mason Herring/Harris County Sheriff’s Office]
