FAIRVIEW HEIGHTS, IL – A Missouri man will spend more than 15 years in federal prison after authorities say he kidnapped his pregnant girlfriend at gunpoint, drove her across state lines, and tried to coerce her into getting an abortion.

Kevin Smith, 42, received a sentence of nearly 16 years Wednesday in connection with the December 2022 abduction, which began in St. Charles, Missouri, and ended at a Planned Parenthood facility in Fairview Heights, Illinois. Federal prosecutors said Smith pleaded guilty to kidnapping charges after a disturbing sequence of threats, violence, and persistent harassment.

According to federal court documents, the ordeal followed a heated dispute between Smith and his girlfriend after she revealed her pregnancy. The woman initially informed Smith of the news with a photo of a positive test, but after an early conversation about abortion, she told Smith she had decided to keep the baby. Authorities said Smith then threatened her life both verbally and through a series of aggressive messages.

Early on December 8, 2022, Smith confronted the woman at her workplace, a gas station in St. Charles. He allegedly forced her into a car, holding her at gunpoint as he drove more than 35 miles to the Planned Parenthood clinic in Illinois. Investigators said Smith brandished a loaded firearm throughout the drive, reportedly issuing chilling threats against the woman’s life.

The victim was able to surreptitiously alert her family by text, telling them she was being held at gunpoint and feared for her safety. Her family swiftly notified law enforcement, providing details that helped officers track the suspect’s vehicle to the clinic parking lot in Fairview Heights.

Responding police located Smith and the woman inside the car. As officers closed in, Smith attempted to flee and threw a handgun out of the window. Police quickly arrested him without injury to the victim. Authorities later recovered the weapon, identified as a Glock 27.

During transport to the police station, body-worn camera footage captured Smith admitting his motive was to prevent the birth of another child, citing personal reasons. Charges brought against Smith initially included aggravated kidnapping, armed with a firearm, illegal possession of a weapon as a felon, and aggravated unlawful restraint.

In court, prosecutors and the presiding judge highlighted the premeditated nature of Smith’s actions, emphasizing that the hours-long ordeal allowed ample time for consideration and restraint. Additional court filings noted Smith’s prior history of domestic abuse, with the judge describing the abduction as both calculated and deeply traumatic for the victim.

Smith’s sentence reflects the severity of the crime and ongoing conduct, as prosecutors revealed he continued to harass and threaten the victim from jail. The ruling includes over 15 years in prison, followed by three years of supervised release.

The case underscores the risks survivors of domestic violence continue to face, particularly as perpetrators attempt to exert control in matters of reproductive health and family planning. Federal authorities said the crime shocked even experienced investigators for its brutality and disregard for the victim’s autonomy.

The woman, who survived the ordeal unharmed, cooperated closely with law enforcement throughout the investigation and legal proceedings. Smith remains in custody and will be transferred to a federal correctional facility to serve his sentence.