Man sued after drugging his girlfriend to force an unwanted abortion before continuing his education
Warning: This article contains discussion of sexual assault and domestic violence which some readers may find distressing.
A former US military cadet is facing a civil lawsuit after admitting to drugging his pregnant girlfriend and secretly giving her abortion medication against her wishes, before going on to graduate from Cornell University and enrol at Columbia University.
Caleb Suh, who pleaded guilty to assault in federal court in June 2026, is being sued by the woman, his ex-girlfriend, who has filed her case under the pseudonym Jane Doe to protect her identity.
The lawsuit, filed in New York last week (28 Oct), concerns an incident that unfolded in 2022 when the pair were both students at the United States Military Academy at West Point.
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According to prosecutors, the woman was 19 at the time and in her second year at the academy when she discovered she was pregnant. While she wanted to continue the pregnancy, Suh did not wish to become a father.
Rather than accept her decision, Suh admitted to taking steps to end the pregnancy without her knowledge or consent.
During his guilty plea, he acknowledged using the woman's personal information to create an account with an online pharmacy, before going on to order abortion medication in her name.
He also admitted obtaining Xanax from a friend, intending to use it to sedate his girlfriend before administering the medication.
According to the account given in court, Suh brought a drink to her barracks room and told her it was a prenatal protein shake. He had mixed the sedative into the drink, and she subsequently fell asleep.
While she was unconscious, he administered the abortion medication both orally and vaginally.
The woman later woke up experiencing bleeding and realised something was wrong.
According to her civil complaint, Suh left her incapacitated and alone, ignoring her attempts to contact him. She eventually called emergency services and was taken to hospital, where she suffered a miscarriage.
The lawsuit further alleges that while she was receiving medical treatment, Suh returned to the online pharmacy website to ask whether doctors would be able to detect the abortion medication.
The woman's lawyer, Russell Kornblith, said the experience left his client with lasting consequences and that the lawsuit sought financial damages from Suh.
Suh also addressed his actions in federal court when he entered his guilty plea, telling the judge: "I am deeply and immeasurably sorry for my actions and the pain that I have caused."
However, while the woman was left dealing with the aftermath of the incident, Suh's academic career continued to flourish.
After leaving West Point, he transferred to Cornell University during the 2023 - 2024 academic year, graduating in May of this year. He subsequently enrolled in a master's programme at Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health, another prestigious educational facility, back in September.
His progression through higher education has raised questions about how his previous institution handled the woman's complaint and what information was available to the universities that later accepted him.
The woman reported the incident to the Army Criminal Investigation Division at West Point in May 2022, according to her lawsuit. It remains unclear whether the academy took disciplinary action against Suh following that report.
A spokesperson for Cornell University said that Suh had indicated on his transfer application that he had not previously been found responsible for a disciplinary violation.
The college also said West Point had informed it that he was in good academic standing and eligible to return, confirming simultaneously that Suh had been involved with its Centre for Health Equity and had briefly worked at its medical school before leaving several months ago.
Columbia, meanwhile, declined to comment on his enrolment, citing student privacy laws. His current status at the university was unclear following the filing of the lawsuit.
The developments also come as Suh awaits sentencing in his federal criminal case.
His lawyer, Thomas Kenniff, requested that sentencing be postponed until January 2027 so that his client could complete his semester at Columbia. Prosecutors did not oppose the request, and the judge granted the delay.
Kenniff also told the court that Suh had been participating in a three-month life-skills programme for people charged with federal offences.
It's important to note that the criminal case and the newly filed civil action are separate proceedings - Suh has already pleaded guilty to the assault charge, while Jane Doe is pursuing additional damages through her lawsuit.
Kornblith said the decision to bring the civil case was intended to help prevent another woman from experiencing a similar situation.
Tyla has contacted the US Corps of Cadets for comment.
If you are experiencing domestic violence, please know that you are not alone. You can talk in confidence to the national domestic violence helpline Refuge on 0808 2000 247, available 24/7, or via live chat, available 10am-10pm, Monday to Friday.
Rhianna Benson
