MILLERSVILLE, Pa. (WHTM) – A man is behind bars after being accused of putting bleach in his pregnant girlfriend’s water to harm her unborn child.
20-year-old Theophilous Washington is charged with a felony count of attempted murder of an unborn child and a misdemeanor count of reckless endangerment.
Washington, a junior at Millersville University, gave his girlfriend water containing bleach when she was two months pregnant while the two were in Washington’s room, authorities said.
The victim drank the water when she returned to her room on campus and felt a burning sensation in her throat. She vomited before calling police.
Washington, the father of the child, admitted to giving his girlfriend water with bleach in it, authorities said. He stated previously that he did not want his girlfriend to give birth.
“There is no greater call in law enforcement than to protect the most vulnerable among us and there are none more vulnerable than the unborn,” Lancaster County District Attorney Craig Stedman said.
Millersville University officials said there was never any threat to other students.
“This was a horrible, unconscionable event,” Brian Hazlett, Vice President of Student Affairs and Enrollment Management at Millersville University, said in a release. “It is very disturbing to me personally because I consider our students to be our family. Our thoughts and prayers are with the victim and we’re doing everything we can to make sure she is okay. At no time was anyone else on campus at risk. Because this was a totally isolated incident that did not impact anyone else on campus, a Timely Warning and our MU Alert system were not warranted.”
Washington, of Washington, D.C., was arraigned Friday evening.
His bail was set at $1 million.
Additional charges could be filed in the ongoing investigation.