Man sentenced for abducting girlfriend at gunpoint to force her to abort

A Missouri man has been sentenced to 188 months (15.5 years) in prison for kidnapping his girlfriend and driving her to a Planned Parenthood in a neighboring state with the intention of forcing her into an abortion.

Key Takeaways:

• In 2022, Kevin L. Smith of Missouri kidnapped his pregnant girlfriend and drove her to an Illinois Planned Parenthood to force her to get an abortion.

• The woman was able to escape by texting a family member, who alerted police.

• Smith was sentenced on October 1 to 188 months (15.5 years) in federal prison for the crime.

What Happened:

On December 7, 2022, Kevin L. Smith of St. Peters, Missouri, arrived at his girlfriend's workplace and kidnapped her at gunpoint. He drove the girlfriend, who was pregnant, to a Planned Parenthood mega-facility just over the Missouri border in Fairview Heights, Illinois, with the intention of forcing her to get an abortion she didn't want.

A press release from the U.S. Attorney's Office states that "during the car ride, he used a loaded firearm to intimidate and threaten to kill the victim by shooting her in the head."

The victim had been able to send text messages to a family member for help, and around 8 a.m., police in Fairview Heights arrived on the property of the Planned Parenthood facility after the family member contacted law enforcement. A press release from the department states:

When officers approached the car, the male began to pull forward, throwing a handgun, out of the driver’s side window, and into a grassy area. The vehicle came to a stop on the parking lot, which allowed the officers to take the male into custody.

A court document from October 2023 reports:

Smith’s comments while in the squad car immediately after his arrest indicate that he was serious in ensuring that the victim obtained an abortion. Smith made comments indicating that he did not want to be a father again because the date of the incident was one of his children’s birthdays.

Responding officers helped the woman, who was unharmed and was not successfully forced to undergo the abortion.

The Details:

The November 17 press release from the U.S. Attorney's Office states that Smith was sentenced to 188 months in prison in a federal court on October 1, after he pleaded guilty to one count of kidnapping. He will also serve three years of supervised release following his sentence.

According to court documents, District Judge Stephen McGlynn told Smith during sentencing:

This case carries a significant penalty for you because it wasn't a momentary lapse or it wasn't, you know, the dumbest five minutes of your life. You had time to plan. You had time to think about the ramifications. You drove over to her place of work. You had time to think about it then.

The evidence is you guys sat in the car for an extended period of time; and when she would not concede to have an abortion, you inform her you're taking her to Planned Parenthood in Fairview Heights, Illinois...

Though prosecutors originally agreed to recommend 108 months in prison, Smith received additional sentencing penalties because he repeatedly harassed the victim and continued to threaten her from jail.

Court records indicate that Smith intends to appeal the sentence.

What We're Hearing:

U.S. Attorney Steven D. Weinhoeft stated:

“It is not easy to shock law enforcement officials because we have pretty much seen it all—but then someone like Kevin Smith comes along. It is difficult to find words adequate to describe someone who would kidnap his pregnant girlfriend to force her to have an abortion at gunpoint and then continue to threaten her from jail. This vile crime terrorized the victim and threatened the life of her unborn child. Smith deserves every minute of that prison sentence.”

Fairview Heights Police Department Chief Steve Johnson added:

“This case represents a disturbing act of violence and abuse. Kevin Smith kidnapped his girlfriend at gunpoint and drove her across state lines against her will in an attempt to make her obtain an abortion. His actions were those of a dangerous and manipulative individual."

The Bottom Line:

Smith joins many other abusers who have harassed, bullied, threatened, or forced women into aborting their preborn children. It's not unusual for women to be killed in defense of their preborn children, with homicide one of the leading causes of death for pregnant women.

Decades of easy access to abortion has led to many men who will quickly resort to violence in order to avoid the responsibilities of parenthood.