It is a case that makes even the most seasoned true-crime followers feel a bit sick. In late 2020, the town of New Boston, Texas, was rocked by a crime so visceral and calculated it sounded like a horror movie script. Taylor Parker, a woman who had spent months meticulously faking a pregnancy, murdered 21-year-old Reagan Simmons-Hancock. She didn't just kill her; she cut Reagan’s unborn daughter, Braxlynn Sage, directly from her womb.
Today, Taylor Parker death row updates are frequent because the legal system is still untangling the aftermath. While some death row inmates fade into the background, Parker's case stays in the spotlight because of the sheer depravity of her actions.
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She's currently one of only seven women on death row in Texas.
The Web of Lies That Led to Murder
Honestly, the lead-up to the crime is just as disturbing as the act itself. Parker was desperate. She wanted to keep her boyfriend, Wade Griffin, and she believed a baby was the only way to do it. The problem? Parker had previously undergone a hysterectomy. She couldn't get pregnant.
Instead of coming clean, she doubled down.
She bought fake belly silicone wraps. She posted faked ultrasounds on social media. She even threw a gender reveal party. To anyone watching from the outside—or following her on Facebook—she looked like a glowing mother-to-be. But behind the scenes, she was hunting. Evidence presented at trial showed she visited OB-GYN clinics and stalked pregnant women, looking for a target.
The Attack on Reagan Hancock
On October 9, 2020, Parker went to the home of Reagan Simmons-Hancock. They were "somewhat" friends—Parker had actually taken Reagan's engagement photos. Reagan was 35 weeks pregnant and just weeks away from her due date.
The scene was a bloodbath.
Forensic experts testified that Reagan was stabbed and cut over 100 times. She was beaten with a hammer. While Reagan was still alive and fighting for her life, Parker used a scalpel to perform a crude, amateur C-section.
She took the baby and fled.
Why Taylor Parker is on Death Row
Texas law is specific about what qualifies for the death penalty. You can’t just commit murder; it has to be "capital murder." This usually means a murder committed during the commission of another felony, like kidnapping.
During the trial, the defense tried to argue that the baby, Braxlynn, was never "alive" outside the womb. If the baby wasn't a living person, they argued, then there was no "kidnapping," and therefore it wasn't a capital crime. It was a technical, legal Hail Mary.
It failed.
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The prosecution brought in medical experts and first responders who testified that they resuscitated Braxlynn and that she had a heartbeat for a short time. A jailhouse informant even testified that Parker admitted to holding the baby up to Reagan's face before leaving, telling the dying mother to "say goodbye."
The 2025 Appeal Decision
In November 2025, the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals delivered a massive blow to Parker's hopes. In a unanimous decision, the court upheld her conviction and her death sentence. They rejected all 25 points of error her lawyers raised.
Some of those points were... unusual.
Her legal team actually argued that she had been "fat-shamed" by the prosecution. They claimed that bringing up her weight-loss surgery and her physical appearance was a move to make the jury dislike her. The court didn't buy it. They ruled that her obsession with her appearance and keeping her boyfriend was central to her motive.
Life at the O'Daniel Unit
Right now, Taylor Parker isn't in a typical prison. She is housed at the Patrick L. O'Daniel Unit (formerly the Mountain View Unit) in Gatesville, Texas.
Death row for women in Texas is a very isolated existence.
- She lives in a 60-square-foot cell.
- The door is solid steel.
- She has a bunk, a toilet-sink combo, and a small table.
- She spends 23 hours a day alone.
While male death row inmates in Texas are famously denied almost all privileges, women at the O'Daniel Unit have it slightly different. They can sometimes have work assignments, like sewing pillows or blankets. But make no mistake, it's a grim, lonely place to wait for the end.
Common Misconceptions About the Case
People often get parts of this story mixed up because it’s so complex. Here are the hard facts that often get lost in the "true crime" rumors:
- The "Friendship" Myth: Many people think they were best friends. They weren't. Parker was a freelance photographer who had worked for Reagan. They were acquaintances, which makes the betrayal even more chilling because Parker used that familiarity to get inside the house.
- The "Insanity" Question: You’ll hear people say she must have been "crazy." While her behavior was definitely not "normal," the jury found she was legally sane. She knew what she was doing. The research she did on how to perform a C-section and how to fake a pregnancy showed high-level planning.
- The Timeline: Some think the baby died instantly. The court records are clear: medical staff managed to get a heartbeat. This legal distinction is the primary reason she is on death row today rather than serving a life sentence.
What Happens Next?
Is Taylor Parker going to be executed soon? Honestly, no.
Texas might be the most "active" state when it comes to the death penalty, but the appeals process for women is incredibly slow. There are women on that same death row, like Darlie Routier, who have been there since the late 90s.
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Parker still has the option to file federal appeals. These can take years—sometimes decades—to wind through the system. Her lawyers will likely challenge the "kidnapping" element again in federal court, looking for any constitutional violation that could get the death sentence tossed.
For the family of Reagan Hancock, the 2025 ruling was a step toward closure, but the road is long. Reagan's mother, Jessica Brooks, has been vocal in court, calling Parker an "evil piece of flesh demon." For the families involved, the legal "wins" don't bring Reagan or Braxlynn back, but they do ensure that Parker stays behind that steel door in Gatesville.
Actionable Insights for Following the Case
If you are tracking this or similar legal cases, keep these points in mind:
- Monitor the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) website: They update inmate status and location regularly.
- Watch Federal Court filings: Now that state appeals are exhausted, the case moves to the U.S. District Court level.
- Distinguish between "Stay of Execution" and "Overturned Conviction": These are often confused. A stay just pauses the clock; it doesn't mean she's getting out.
The case of Taylor Parker remains one of the most harrowing examples of how far a person can go when fueled by a mix of obsession and deception.