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Documents reveal motive for man accused of tricking girlfriend into taking abortion pill

Posted at 6:57 PM, Jun 19, 2013
and last updated 2014-06-30 19:40:52-04

In an exclusive interview, Remee Lee told ABC Action News that "Every woman dreams of becoming a mom.  It was finally my chance."

But that dream was stolen after, prosecutors say, her boyfriend John Andrew Welden, tricked her into taking pills that caused a miscarriage.  Pills Lee thought were for a bacterial infection.

Now, in documents released through federal court, prosecutors outline what they believe was his motive: to hide the pregnancy from another woman, his former girlfriend who he dated on and off for seven years, Tara Fillinger.

Welden sits in jail, but his defense team wants a judge to allow bond.  Prosecutors will fight that move.

In a more than 40-page motion, prosecutors show text messages between Welden and Lee, and transcripts of a phone call recorded by Hillsborough deputies where Welden allegedly confesses and apologizes.

When Welden learned of the pregnancy, prosecutors said he sent a text message to Lee:  "Oh god I want to die.....are you serious Remee please don't do this I beg you."

Lee replied:  "How can you beg me to kill it."

Bryant Camareno, an attorney not involved in this case, said prosecutors have a strong argument to keep Welden in jail.

"It's all premature.  I don't know all the facts, but it looks like if he did do this intentionally, with the intention of destroying the fetus, that it would be a strong case and he would be facing life in prison," said Camareno.

Prosecutors said text messages and recorded phone calls by detectives prove Weldon did not want the baby. They also said he changed his story, appearing to support Lee, but actually planning to kill the fetus.

Lee apparently had no health insurance, and prosecutors say Weldon convinced her to see his father, a Lutz obstetrician.  Deputies said Weldon told Lee that tests revealed a bacterial infection.  He claimed she needed antibiotics.

Investigators said Welden bought the drug linked to Lee's miscarriage, Cytotec, at Sunlake Pharmacy. Prosecutors also revealed when he retrieved the prescription he convinced an employee to print a label in Lee's name.  A label prosecutors say Weldon put on the bottle filled with Cytotec.

"According to the statute, it's regardless of whether the person knew or if the person should have known what the crime was going to be committed.  And at a minimum there could be some negligence towards the pharmacy.  Perhaps not any criminal liability, perhaps some civil negligence," said Camareno.

Dan Musca, an attorney hired by the owners of the pharmacy, claimed Weldon also lied to the employee.

Mr. Weldon informed a staff member of the pharmacy that the medical practice's prescription label printer was broken and, as a favor, requested that the pharmacy print a prescription label for Amoxicillin, a common antibiotic, for a patient who had been prescribed the drug by Dr. Weldon, and who was at that moment waiting to pick up the drug at Dr. Weldon's medical practice.  The medical practice and the pharmacy are located in the same business park.

Said Musca, "The pharmacy did nothing inappropriate in connection with the original prescription or the supplying of a prescription label as an accommodation to Dr. Weldon's medical practice."

In the end, prosecutors said, Weldon later even apologized to Lee in texts and a recorded phone call.

Prosecutors said Weldon said he was a "coward and just horrible person."  In another communication, Weldon said, "Karma will be served my future is destroyed. I am truly sorry for being so stupid and so selfish."

For Lee, the apology falls short.

"I still haven't fully comprehended it all.  I can't believe that someone did something so malicious to me, and not only to me, but to himself.  That was our baby," said Lee.