Woman Allegedly Given Abortion Pills Disguised As Iron Supplements By Ex

A Massachusetts man was charged Tuesday after being accused of trickinga pregnant woman he had dated into taking abortion pills that he disguised as an iron supplement and vitamins, Watertown police announced.

Robert Kawada, 43, of Brookline, pleaded not guilty to several charges, including poisoning and battery with a dangerous weapon on a pregnant person. Authorities allege he secretly gave his ex-girlfriend pills that were intended to end her pregnancy, including misoprostol, according to the announcement.

Misoprostol is usually combined with another drug, mifepristone, to help pregnant people safely induce an abortion before the 16th week of pregnancy. It can also be used on its own to end a pregnancy.

According to a probable cause statement cited by NBC affiliate WBTS in Boston, Kawada and the woman, whose name has not been made public, met on a dating app in January and went on a few dates before they ended the relationship in March.

The woman later discovered she was pregnant, and the two met several more times over six weeks, WBTS reported.

During these meetings, “Kawada would provide assurances,” citing his experience with his ex-wife’s pregnancy and saying that his father was an OB-GYN, according to a police report cited by WCVB-TV in Boston.

But Kawada allegedly attempted to terminate the pregnancy by giving her homemade cookies made with raspberry leaf, which could induce contractions. The National Library of Medicine says research on its ability to end a pregnancy is “under-developed” and “weak.”

The victim allegedly was also given pills disguised as prenatal supplements, WCVB reported.

Speaking at Kawada’s arraignment on Tuesday, prosecutor Jacob McCrindle alleged he “instructed the victim how to take