Massachusetts man accused of secretly giving girlfriend abortion pill to end pregnancy
WATERTOWN - A Massachusetts man has been charged with secretly giving his girlfriend an abortion pill to end her pregnancy.
Robert Kawada, 43, of Brookline, pleaded not guilty at his arraignment on several charges Tuesday afternoon in Waltham District Court. He was ordered held on $100,000 bail.
The alleged plot
According to Watertown Police, the two met on a dating app and were together for a couple months. After they broke up, she told Kawada she was pregnant. Prosecutors said Kawada intentionally gave his girlfriend the medication to end the pregnancy earlier this month. Watertown Police arrested him Friday.
"He would provide the victim with pills that he informed her were iron pills or other vitamins," prosecutor Jacob McCrindle said at the arraignment. "The defendant would also check the victim's mouth by pulling on the victim's cheek to make sure she had consumed the pills."
What pill was allegedly used?
The pills, McCrindle said, were consistent with Misoprostol, one of two controversial abortion drugs at the center of a case before the U.S. Supreme Court. They're available in Massachusetts through prescription, and prosecutors say Kawada's phone showed a call to an online pharmacy that sells it.
Police say he even orchestrated a fake call from a nurse saying because of the woman's blood levels, she really should take iron pills. Then he happened to have some, said police, which he gave to her.
"She was cold, shivering and she felt very uneasy. She went to sleep and woke up had very bad cramps," said McCrindle.
When she had a miscarriage, prosecutors say Kawada asked her to send pictures. Court documents show his cell phone search at the time included "9-week aborted fetus pics" and "telephone voice changer" and "chewing Misprostol."
Misoprostol is a medicine used "for a variety of indications in the practice of obstetrics and gynecology, including medication abortion," according to the National Library of Medicine. It's combined with the drug Mifepristone to induce an abortion in the first trimester of pregnancy. According to CBS News, medication abortion accounts for more than half of all abortions in the United States.
Boyfriend facing several charges
Video posted on YouTube showed Kawada talking about an international language program he founded, that, according to his social media, was sold last year. His former girlfriend told police he said his father was an OBGYN doctor.
His family did not speak as they left the courthouse, but his attorney did. "We look forward to a full investigation," said defense attorney Dmitry Lev. "And a fair trial in front of our jury."
Kawada is facing several charges, including poisoning, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon on a pregnant person and assault and battery on a household or family member.
"This is an ongoing investigation being conducted by the Middlesex District Attorney's Office and Watertown Police," both agencies said in a joint statement.
Kawada is due back in court July 23 for a probable cause hearing.