Fetal Homicide Charges: Deceptive Poisoning

A stone angel statue with roses in front of a wooden casket at a funeral service

A Michigan man faces multiple felony charges including homicide of an unborn child after allegedly spiking his girlfriend’s hot cocoa with abortion drugs and forcibly administering pills to terminate her pregnancy against her will.

Story Highlights

  • Christopher “Kit” Cooprider charged with multiple felonies under Michigan’s fetal homicide statutes
  • Liana Davis wanted to keep the baby, texting it would be “beautiful and loved”
  • Alleged coercion involved secretly drugging hot cocoa and later forcing pills into victim’s mouth
  • Case highlights reproductive coercion and potential misuse of abortion medications

Alleged Criminal Timeline Unfolds

Christopher “Kit” Cooprider allegedly began pressuring his girlfriend Liana Davis to abort their pregnancy on January 31, 2025, through text messages before pregnancy confirmation. Messages reportedly show Cooprider writing he would “like to get rid of it” while characterizing chemical abortion drugs as “safe” and minimizing risks. Davis consistently resisted the pressure, affirming in texts that their baby would be “beautiful and loved,” demonstrating her clear intent to continue the pregnancy.

Deception and Force in Alleged Murder

After Davis’s pregnancy was confirmed, prosecutors allege Cooprider secretly laced her hot cocoa with abortion medication, causing her to experience bleeding. The criminal scheme escalated when Cooprider allegedly forced additional pills into Davis’s mouth to complete the abortion process, resulting in the loss of the pregnancy. Michigan authorities have filed multiple felony charges against Cooprider, including homicide-related counts applicable to the unborn child under state law protecting victims of violence.

Michigan’s Legal Framework Protects Unborn Victims

Michigan maintains fetal homicide statutes that allow prosecution when third parties cause the death of an unborn child during criminal acts, even while the state protects consensual abortion access post-Dobbs. These “unborn victims of violence” laws specifically target assailants who cause fetal death outside the context of legal medical procedures chosen by pregnant women. The legal framework distinguishes between protected reproductive choice and criminal violence against both mother and child, ensuring accountability for perpetrators who use force or deception.

Broader Implications for Reproductive Coercion

This case spotlights the growing concern over reproductive coercion within intimate partner violence and the potential misuse of abortion medications. Text evidence reportedly shows Cooprider dehumanizing the fetus as a “thing” and “failure” while seeking to “abort this monstrosity of a situation.” The alleged crimes demonstrate how abortion drugs, increasingly available through telehealth and at-home regimens, could be weaponized by abusive partners against women who choose to continue their pregnancies.

Legal experts note this case may influence future prosecutorial practices and legislative discussions about preventing non-consensual administration of abortion-inducing drugs. The intersection of intimate partner violence, reproductive coercion, and fetal protection laws creates important precedent for holding perpetrators accountable while maintaining the distinction between criminal assault and legitimate medical care. As the case proceeds through Michigan courts, it serves as a stark reminder that protecting life extends to defending both mothers and their unborn children from violent partners who would deny them choice through deception and force.

Sources:

Man Allegedly Murdered His Unborn Baby By Spiking Her Mom’s Hot Cocoa With Abortion Drug