According to Washington state deputies, after expressing delight for his girlfriend’s pregnancy, a married nurse practitioner snuck abortion drugs into her while having intercourse. The woman is now concerned for her safety since the defendant, David Benjamin Coots, allegedly continued to violate the protective order she issued against him.
“Even after the Court ordered him to have no contact with me, David has continued to make repeated contacts,” she stated in a letter to the court. “Beginning with emails warning me to be cautious about who I listen to and talk to, and most recently turning up at my sister-in-law’s house knowing my brother was not there to drop off a letter addressed to me, money, gifts, and my house key. His brazenness in these expanding interactions is alarming, and I’m not sure what, if anything, can stop him.”
Coots faces charges of second-degree assault, third-degree rape, tampering with a witness, and five counts of violating a court order. His wife, Melissa Marie Coots, has also been charged with witness tampering. The married pair allegedly attempted to buy the victim’s quiet.
“It’s clear by his actions and words that he thinks he can do whatever he wants,” the woman stated in her letter to the court. “He and his wife have already sent me money (which I sent back) to get me to not come forward.”
According to the filings, she encountered Coots while seeking medical attention at MultiCare Health System in Tacoma, Washington. They became friends and began a romance. She finally found he was married, but Coots insisted on divorcing his wife, according to records.
The woman then found that she might be pregnant. Five pregnancy tests were positive, while one was inconclusive, she stated in documents.
Speaking with detectives, the woman described Coots as “overly supportive” after learning she might be pregnant.
“She said David was aware that she may be pregnant and at one point asked her what type of stroller they should get,” according to court filings. “She confirmed that she planned to keep the kid and raise it with David. She said that there were no discussions about terminating the pregnancy.
However, on Jan. 27, during intercourse, Coots allegedly used his fingers on her privates “farther and harder” than usual.
He then began acting strangely, ensuring she stayed at home that night, according to records.
When he left for the night, the woman “noticed a pill falling from her vagina.”
According to the victim, Coots admitted to inserting four tablets into her. These were misoprostol tablets, which are used to perform abortions.
After a medical episode that resulted in irregular bleeding, she took a pregnancy test, which came out negative.
She saw a doctor, who indicated the bleeding could be the result of a miscarriage.
“She said the doctor did not know if the miscarriage was caused by the medication,” according to the papers. “The doctor also could not confirm whether there had previously been a pregnancy or a miscarriage.”
During the sexual assault and the victim’s medical problems, Coots and his wife, Melissa, began to show up at her house on a regular basis, attempting to pay her not to seek legal or medical assistance “as they did not want their lives ruined,” according to records.
She left her home because she no longer felt comfortable there — David had keys — despite Coots’ attempts to contact her, according to officials.
Coots was served with a protection order on February 6, but he continued to email the victim on February 17, 19, 23, and twice on February 24, according to records.
Documents revealed:
COOTS conveyed his affection for D.H. as well as his remorse through these emails. He made statements such as, “What I would give to hold you again,” “I’m deathly terrified, afraid of losing you, afraid of what you can do to me,” “I am dying within for even a little time with you, even just a call,” and “But I will also respect what you want. “If you want me to walk away, I will.”
On Monday, he allegedly breached the protective order by showing up at her brother’s house with flowers, a letter, and a duplicate of her own house key. He allegedly texted her to read the letter.
The letter was typed, single-spaced, and over seven pages. In this letter COOTS again expresses his love for D.H. and his remorse. COOTS stated, “Here is your key. I want you to know I would never use it without your permission. . . Giving it to you feels so final and sad for me . . . I vainly hope you will return it and allow me to be a part of your life.”
Additionally, he states things like “The hardest thing i can possibly imagine is losing you and I fear I already have,” “Please tell me to leave you alone if that is what you want. I have a dense skull and heart which years for you, “[REDACTED], do to me what you want. If you want money, well I am offering myself and everything I can give, my life to you.”