A Missouri woman who thought she was heading into a normal workday instead found herself staring down the barrel of a gun—and fighting for her life.
Now, the man who abducted her at gunpoint and tried to force her into an abortion was sentenced to more than 15 years in federal prison on Nov. 17, 2025.
Federal prosecutors say 42-year-old Kevin L. Smith of St. Peters kidnapped his pregnant girlfriend on Dec. 7, 2022, after she told him she no longer wished to terminate her pregnancy.
What followed was a harrowing, minutes-long ordeal that underscores the brutal reality of domestic violence and reproductive coercion—an often overlooked form of abuse where partners pressure or force women into decisions about pregnancy.
A Terrifying Abduction in Broad Daylight
According to court documents, the violence began the day after the woman shared a photo of her positive pregnancy test. Smith initially supported an abortion but became enraged when she changed her mind.
The next morning, he showed up at her job in St. Charles, Missouri, forced her outside, and shoved a gun to her head as he drove toward a Planned Parenthood clinic in Fairview Heights, Illinois.
During the drive, the victim managed to secretly text family members, telling them she had been abducted and that Smith was threatening to kill her if she refused the abortion. A relative who tracked her phone raced to the clinic parking lot and called 911.
Police arrived quickly. Officers spotted Smith’s white Dodge Charger and saw the victim in the passenger seat. As they approached, Smith tossed his handgun out the window and tried to flee—but officers blocked him in and arrested him on the spot. The woman was rescued unharmed.
Threats Continued Even from Jail
Even behind bars, prosecutors say Smith continued to harass and threaten the victim, a factor that led to a harsher sentence. He ultimately pleaded guilty to one federal count of kidnapping.
On Oct. 1, a federal judge sentenced him to 188 months (15 years and 8 months) in prison, followed by three years of supervised release.
A Case That Exposes a Hidden Form of Violence
Advocates say the case highlights a troubling truth: reproductive coercion is a real and growing concern in the landscape of intimate partner violence. Whether by forcing a pregnancy, sabotaging birth control, or compelling an abortion, abusers use reproductive choices as a weapon.
This victim’s survival hinged on quick thinking—quiet texts, GPS tracking, and a family member who refused to wait. Many women in similar situations never get that chance.
As the holidays near and families gather, domestic-violence experts urge that safety planning, community vigilance, and easy ways to reach help can save lives.
