Student accused of putting bleach in pregnant girlfriend’s water

A student at Millersville University is facing felony charges after he allegedly put bleach in his girlfriend’s water in an attempt to harm her unborn child, police said.

Theophilous Washington, 20, of Washington, D.C., is a junior at the university located about five miles outside Lancaster. He’s being charged with criminal attempt to commit first-degree murder of an unborn child, and reckless endangering, the Lancaster County District Attorney’s Office said.

“The charges are twisted and the intended result nothing short of horrifying,”District Attorney Craig Stedman said.

A doctor examined the female victim, who is about twomonths pregnant, and the fetus, and both are believed to be physically unharmed. Washington is the father of the child.

The woman and Washington were hanging out in Washington’s room Thursday night into Friday morning. As she was leaving, Washington offered her water from his refrigerator. The victim drank the water, but later felt a burning sensation in her throat upon returning to her on-campus room, vomited and called the police.

Washington, who told police he didn’t want his girlfriend to have their child, confessed to putting bleach in her drink, police said.

He’s being held on $1 million bail.

“This was a horrible, unconscionable event,”said Brian Hazlett, vice president of student affairs at the university. “It is very disturbing to me personally because I consider our students to be our family. Our thoughts and prayers are with the victim and we’re doing everything we can to make sure she is OK.”