Netflix viewers have been left stunned by the disturbing case at the center of Maternal Instinct, the new documentary examining the murder of 21-year-old Reagan Simmons-Hancock and the actions of Taylor Parker.
Parker, 33, is one of the youngest women on Texas death row after being convicted of capital murder in connection with the October 2020 killing.
The documentary features interviews with Reagan’s loved ones, Parker’s former boyfriend Wade Griffin, and members of his family, while revisiting a case that drew national attention.
While the film explores the fake pregnancy Parker maintained for months and the devastating impact of the crime, several significant details that emerged during her 2022 trial were not included in the final cut.
From testimony by family members to evidence presented in court, the omitted information provides additional context surrounding the case.
Taylor Parker murdered her pregnant friend. Credit: Texas Department of Corrections
The voices missing from the documentary
One notable absence was Parker herself. Although viewers saw social media clips, home videos, and bodycam footage, the documentary did not include an interview with her from death row.
Director Jessica Dimmock explained the decision in an interview with USA Today.
“What I really wanted to do was include the perspectives of the people that it affected the most,” she said.
“How did Wade feel about it at the time? How does he feel about it now, looking back? How is Reagan’s family altered forever?”
Dimmock also said: “I hope that she is remembered for not just this crime, but for being an amazing wife, sister, daughter and mother.”
Questions have also continued to surround Wade Griffin and whether he knew Parker was not pregnant. During the trial, he admitted he had doubts but said Parker always had an explanation when concerns were raised.
He testified, “I’ve got my mom telling me one thing, Taylor telling me another. But I’ve been with Taylor this whole time, so I’m going with her.”
According to testimony heard by jurors, Parker claimed medical appointments were affected by COVID-19 restrictions and told Griffin she was experiencing serious pregnancy complications.
Family members also testified that Griffin believed he was feeling her stomach through layers of clothing and did not realize she was allegedly wearing silicone.
Reagan Simmons Hancock was pregnant when she was tragically killed. Credit: Facebook
Family testimony revealed more about the deception
Parker’s mother, Shona Prior, also played a major role during the trial but was largely absent from the documentary.
According to testimony, Prior knew Parker could not be pregnant because she had been present when her daughter underwent a hysterectomy. The court heard that she became aware of Parker’s pregnancy claims after seeing a screenshot from a gender reveal party posted online.
“So I sent it to Taylor and said, ‘What am I supposed to tell my girlfriends telling me I’m going to be a grandmother again?” Prior told jurors.
She said Parker responded: “You are.”
Prior also testified: “She knew she wasn’t pregnant. We knew she wasn’t pregnant.
“There was no need to come up with a plan. We figured the lie would be exposed. He [Wade] would figure it out.”
She added: “His mother was aware of it, his brother was aware of it. It’s like everyone around them was aware of it. We did not feel the need to call them up.”
Family members further testified that Parker had a history of elaborate lies and that concerns about her claims had been raised long before the murder.
Graphic evidence and jail calls not shown
While the documentary included some crime scene material, trial testimony provided far more detail about the evidence presented by prosecutors.
Jurors heard that Reagan suffered 39 blunt-force injuries, including five skull fractures and a broken nose. Prosecutors alleged Parker attacked her with a claw hammer and a four-pound glass jar before using a medical scalpel she had brought with her.
The autopsy later found the scalpel lodged in Reagan’s neck, with two wounds having perforated her jugular vein.
The documentary also omitted recorded jail calls played during the trial. Prosecutors argued the conversations demonstrated Parker’s lack of remorse. In one exchange, her mother challenged her over concerns about her mental state and questioned why she had not undergone a psychiatric evaluation.
Additional testimony focused on Parker’s behavior after she was stopped by first responders. Nurse Amanda Pirkey testified that Parker appeared focused on removing blood from her body rather than asking about the newborn. According to trial coverage cited in the source material, Parker asked, “Can I get this stuff off me? I want to get this blood off me.”
Pirkey also recalled Parker saying it “grosses me out” or “disgusts me” while cleaning herself.
During the sentencing phase, jurors also heard testimony about Parker’s relationship with her children. Family members claimed her children were often not her priority, and court documents showed she voluntarily surrendered custody of her son following her 2017 divorce.
Her brother, Zachary Morton, told the court: “It seemed like when Taylor was chasing another man, instead of the focus being on her children, it was on herself. It was all about her at one specific time.”
Together, the testimony, evidence, and recordings presented at trial painted a broader picture of the case than viewers saw in Maternal Instinct, adding further details to one of the most disturbing crimes examined in the Netflix documentary.
