Newly released jailhouse phone calls reveal Taylor Parker, 33, who is on death row in Texas, complaining about her treatment behind bars and referring to the brutal murder of her pregnant friend as "one horrible thing." Parker was convicted of murdering 21-year-old Reagan Simmons-Hancock and stealing her unborn baby in October 2020. She stabbed Simmons-Hancock over 100 times, crushed her skull with a hammer, and removed the baby with a scalpel. Parker then fled with the newborn, who later died, leaving Simmons-Hancock to die. She was arrested while driving the deceased infant to a hospital.
The calls, made to her mother, Shona Prior, while Parker was held in Bowie County Jail before her trial, were obtained by The US Sun. In one conversation, Parker dismisses her actions, stating, "I mean, it's like [you do] one horrible thing, they'll do anything and whatever. I mean, that's just what it comes down to. They don't give a s***." Her mother questioned Parker's state of mind, suggesting a psychological evaluation might be necessary.
Parker also expressed concerns about her appearance in court, inquiring about the possibility of wearing makeup. Her mother advised that any perceived discrimination by the court could potentially work in Parker's favor. The calls also touched on Parker's distress over not being able to speak with her son, an issue her mother attributed to Parker's own actions.
Another complaint captured in the calls involved the constant lighting in her cell, which Parker stated was kept on 24 hours a day and aggravated her hemiplegic migraines. Her mother suggested this could create further issues for the jail if it triggered an episode.
Prosecutors presented these phone calls as evidence of Parker's lack of remorse and manipulative behavior, arguing that a normal person would show more guilt or grief. Parker's defense team contended the calls showed her attempts to maintain family connections. During the calls, Parker did express apologies at times, particularly after her mother emphasized the consequences of her actions.
The horrific nature of Parker's crimes gained renewed public attention following the release of the Netflix documentary "Maternal Instinct."
Parker's history includes a troubled childhood, dropping out of high school, and becoming a mother at 17. She later underwent a hysterectomy, which rendered her unable to carry children, reportedly impacting her deeply and leading to an obsession with having another child. She faked a pregnancy for months, using a silicone belly and false ultrasound images, before committing the murder. She was arrested after a Texas Highway Patrol trooper stopped her for erratic driving. She initially claimed she had given birth and the baby was not breathing. Hospital staff became suspicious when Parker refused a vaginal examination, and subsequent tests confirmed she had not been pregnant and no longer had a uterus. During interrogation, she changed her story multiple times before confessing.
In November 2022, Parker was sentenced to death. Her appeals have since been denied, including by the Supreme Court in May of the current year. She is currently the youngest woman on Texas's death row.