Mickayla Miller
News Editor

Murder is not an easy topic for Millersville students to talk about, especially when it relates to one of the members of the student body.

But, the discussion comes up once more as Washington D.C-native Theophilous Washington attempted to terminate his girlfriend’s pregnancy by putting bleach in a water bottle, which he later asked her to drink.

His girlfriend vomited after ingesting the water and then called 911; the baby and the woman are not believed to be harmed, according to a doctor’s examination. Both Washington, a junior, and his girlfriend, a freshman, were staying on campus.

Now, Washington is facing a felony charge of criminal intent of first-degree murder for an unborn child, and a misdemeanor for reckless endangerment, according to a press release from the district attorney.

When questioned by police, Washington admitted to intentionally putting bleach in his girlfriend’s water bottle to terminate her pregnancy. The release stated that he had previously mentioned not wanting the child.

His girlfriend told authorities that he had asked her twice to get an abortion, reports said.

“The charges are twisted and the intended result nothing short of horrifying,” District Attorney Craig Stedman said on Friday in a release.

The charges didn’t sit right with Brian Hazlett, Vice President of Student Affairs and Enrollment Management at the university.

“This was a horrible, unconscionable event,” said Hazlett in a press 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.”

The charges were placed Friday, Oct. 28, and Washington has since been arraigned and is at Lancaster County jail with a $1 million bail, according to LancasterOnline.

According to an arrest affidavit, Washington told police that he did not want to hurt his girlfriend, but that he had hoped drinking the bleach would hurt the unborn fetus.

The investigation is ongoing, and more charges could be filed in the future, said a press release from the District Attorney.