Skip to main content

Texas Woman Sentenced to Death for Killing Pregnant Friend and Stealing Unborn Baby

 


Welcome to Woman Condemned, where we learn about the lives and crimes of the women on death row, and serving life. Today, we'll take a look at Taylor Parker. Leave your thoughts below.

TEXARKANA, Texas (AP) — Taylor Parker, a 29-year-old Texas woman, was sentenced to death Wednesday for the gruesome 2020 murder of her friend Reagan Simmons-Hancock and her unborn daughter, Braxlynn Sage Hancock. The sentencing comes after a Bowie County jury deliberated for just over an hour, concluding Parker’s trial which had captivated the region with its shocking details and subsequent jailhouse drama.

The same jury convicted Parkerconvicted Parker of capital murder on October 3 for the slaying of 21-year-old Simmons-Hancock. Parker, driven by a desperate attempt to maintain her relationship with her boyfriend, had gone to extreme lengths to fake a pregnancy, including staging ultrasounds and even hosting a gender-reveal party. The plan culminated in the violent act of cutting Simmons-Hancock’s baby from her womb.



In a powerful victim impact statement, Simmons-Hancock's mother, Jessica Brooks, addressed Parker directly, calling her an "evil piece of flesh demon." She recounted the horrific details of her daughter’s final moments, stating, "My baby was alive still fighting for her babies when you tore her open and ripped her baby from her stomach."

Parker had claimed she had just given birth when she was pulled over for speeding and erratic driving on the morning of October 9, 2020. The baby, Braxlynn Sage Hancock, was taken to a hospital in Oklahoma but did not survive. During the trial, state police investigator Special Agent Dustin Estes testified that Parker had conducted extensive research on how to fake a pregnancy convincingly. On the day of the murder, she watched a video on the physical exam of an infant delivered pre-term at 35 weeks.



Homer Hancock, Simmons-Hancock's husband, testified that Parker and his wife were "somewhat friends," and Parker had taken their engagement and wedding photos. Prosecutor Kelley Crisp described Parker as a continued threat to society, displaying a crime scene photo of Simmons-Hancock drenched in blood. Crisp detailed how Simmons-Hancock had been slashed hundreds of times and beaten before Parker cut the baby from her womb.

Parker's defense attorney, Jeff Harrelson, urged jurors to consider the "layers" and "shades of gray" in Parker's life. He argued that Parker had been let down by her friends and family, who did not confront her about the fake pregnancy. Despite these arguments, the jury found Parker likely to continue committing acts of violence and determined that no significant mitigating circumstances warranted a life sentence over the death penalty.

The investigation revealed that Parker had sliced Simmons-Hancock from hip to hip with a scalpel, causing severe injuries and ultimately removing the baby from her womb. Authorities initially overlooked the scalpel, which was later found lodged in the victim's neck.

The trial took an unexpected turn with testimonies from jail inmates who revealed Parker's attempts to manipulate them from behind bars. Lana Addison, a former jailhouse lover, testified that Parker lied to her about the murder, involving her children in the deceit. Addison recalled how Parker had tried to manipulate her into participating in schemes to exonerate herself, including fabricating stories and planting evidence.

Phyllis Dawson, another inmate, testified that Parker had offered her $5,000 to find witnesses willing to testify that Parker was not present at the crime scene. Dawson, who called Parker "Granny," described how Parker had provided detailed instructions in a puzzle book to fabricate alibis.

Shonnaree Yeager testified that Parker had asked her to distribute a 14-page confession letter to various authorities, framing another inmate, Hannah Hullender, for the crime. Yeager alerted authorities instead, recognizing the intricate details of the crime as suspicious.

Kaleigh Bromsey, an inmate who spent time with Parker in the segregated pod, testified that Parker had asked her to plant evidence and fabricate stories to create an alibi. Bromsey described how Parker manipulated her and other inmates, offering money and promises of legal assistance in exchange for their cooperation.

Judge John Tidwell, addressing Parker, said, "You have been found guilty of capital murder and punished by Texas law to death. I formally sentence you to death. Take her to death row."

The courtroom drama and the shocking details of Parker's crime and subsequent jailhouse schemes have left a lasting impact on the community. As Parker awaits her transfer to death row, the tragic loss of Reagan Simmons-Hancock and her unborn daughter continues to resonate with those who followed the harrowing case

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Darlie Routier Texas

I was contacted by a penpal of Darlie Routier's who gave me some of the most recent advances in her case to share with you all. I began writing to Darlie in December of 2005 and she is one woman whom I will never understand how she got behind bars. Really. You know what else? With all the information ALREADY out there about this case, in addition to the newly discovered info, I think if you can't see this poor woman's innocence, you may just be an asshole. So many legal flubs, so much question and police innuendo that turned out to be nothing. So many fingers pointed and road blocks thrown up, I am surprised this case isn't used in other countries to point to the clusterfuck we call a justice system.  I believe Darlie could have been released ages ago if the state had done the necessary DNA testing. Sadly, Texas has tried to stop it in every unconstitutional way they could pull out of a bull's ass. BUT- there is hope on the horizon. This from Camp Darlie

The Most Beautiful Girls to Ever Kill Their Own Mother

As human beings, we have trouble fathoming the idea of a young girl committing so atrocious a crime as murder. Much less, the murder of her own mother. The concept becomes even more inconceivable when it pertains to a beautiful young woman beautiful young woman with a loving family and the world at her fingertips. These girls aren't all women in prison now. Some have been released and disappeared into the mainstream. Scary, huh?  Nakisha Waddell     At age 14, Nakisha Waddell stabbed her mother, Vaughne Thomas, 43 times in their Virginia home. In court, she said she was tired of the years of fighting and just exploded. Her 15-year-old friend, Annie Belcher, helped her dig a grave in the backyard. The pair poured alcohol and nail polish remover on the dead woman and tried to ignite her to no avail.  They eventually mixed a crude concrete mixture and poured it on top of her and finished by covering her with sticks, leaves, and yard debris. She gives no reason or excuse o

Tina Brown, Heather Lee, & 16 YO Britnee Miller Killed Over Teen Jealousy

The first thing I thought of when I found this lady, Tina Brown, was that old Texas case where that mom went ballistic and tried to hire a hitman to kill her daughter's cheerleading rival. Wanda -something -or -other was her name. My sister lives close to her still. This story is even more brutal, if you can believe that. Tina's 16-year-old daughter, Britnee was on and off besties with another gal in their Pensacola, Florida trailer park, Audreanna Zimmerman. Like many teen friendships, it ran hot and cold depending on the current drama in the trailer park. In March of 2010, it was frigid and it was all over a boy. Audreanna Zimmerman Police reports say Britnee complained to her mom, Tina, and a neighbor, 27-year-old, Heather Lee, about the ongoing arguments with Audreanna, already a mom of two at 19-years-old. The trio decided to find her and hem her up so Britnee could fight her. Things got out of hand, They found Audreanna walking along a dirt road. Tina Brown u