NEW YORK (AP) Caleb Suh, a former West Point cadet, has been implicated in a disturbing case where he allegedly drugged his then-girlfriend in her barracks room and unwittingly caused a miscarriage by administering abortion pills against her will. Following this incident, Suh continued his education at two Ivy League institutions, including Cornell University, where he graduated this year, and Columbia University, where he was enrolled as a public health graduate student as of October 28, when the woman filed a lawsuit against him in a New York court.
Suh's guilty plea in June 2023 regarding an assault that took place in March 2022 on another cadet was a significant point in his background. The victim, a 19-year-old cadet at West Point, had intended to carry the baby to term, while Suh had other plans. He deceived the court by claiming that the miscarriage was accidental. His actions included impersonating the woman to create an online pharmacy account, ordering abortion pills, and using Xanax, obtained from a friend, to sedate her. He administered these abortion medications to her while she was unconscious, pretending it was merely a prenatal protein shake. After the incident, the woman awoke to find herself bleeding and subsequently called 911, requiring hospitalization.
The lawsuit emphasizes that Suh neglected the woman’s welfare after the incident; he abandoned her while incapacitated and ignored her attempts to reach out after she regained consciousness. Suh is now awaiting sentencing and expressed remorse during the court proceedings, stating he felt "deeply and immeasurably sorry for [his] actions and the pain that [he] has caused."
The woman’s attorney, Russell Kornblith, remarked that she has endured a "life-changing event" that will have lasting implications on her life. The suit, filed under the alias Jane Doe, highlights systemic issues regarding student misconduct litigation, especially as Cornell University faces backlash related to how it handled past sexual assault allegations, including a recent lawsuit alleging multiple rapes at a fraternity house in 2024.
The circumstances surrounding Suh’s disciplinary actions at West Point remain unclear. Although the woman reported the incident to the Army Criminal Investigation Division in May 2022, no conclusive information regarding the investigation's findings or outcomes has been shared by the military academy. During the court session, an Assistant U.S. Attorney stated that Suh claimed to investigators that the miscarriage was unintentional.
After his departure from West Point, Suh transferred to Cornell University for the academic year 2023-2024. The institution stated that he responded "no" to an application question regarding disciplinary violations and confirmed that West Point reported him as being in good academic standing. During his time at Cornell, Suh was recognized for his writing and participated in the Cornell Center for Health Equity, indicating an interest in emergency medicine and addiction within the public health domain. He had also worked briefly at Cornell's medical school and was acknowledged as an author in a medical journal.
In September, Suh began a master's program at Columbia University at the Mailman School of Public Health. While Columbia could not disclose details, it was mentioned that applicants are not asked about criminal records specifically but do have to disclose any student conduct violations. Suh did not mention any such matters in his application. His sentencing has been postponed until January, allowing him to complete his semester at Columbia. Prosecutors did not oppose this request, indicating an allowance for rehabilitation programs, including a life skills course for those charged with federal crimes.
The woman’s attorney has refrained from revealing whether she graduated from West Point or her current situation. He emphasized the importance of her coming forward in hopes of preventing similar situations from occurring to others in the future.
