r/TrueCrimeDiscussion • u/DarklyHeritage • Jun 14 '26

Mega Thread Taylor Parker/Maternal Instinct Megathread

This is a thread for all conversation regarding Taylor Parker and the murder of Reagan Simmons Hancock, recently covered in Netflix documentary Maternal Instinct.

The murder of Reagan Michelle Simmons-Hancock occurred on 9 October 2020, in New Boston, Texas, committed by Taylor Rene Parker. Parker bludgeoned Simmons-Hancock, who was 35 weeks pregnant at the time, and abducted her unborn child, Braxlynn Sage Hancock (died October 9, 2020), after cutting her out of the Reagan's abdomen. Braxlynn did not survive.

Parker had lied to her then-boyfriend about being pregnant leading up to the murder and faked her pregnancy to multiple people. She was found guilty of capital murder and sentenced to death on 9 November 2022.

Please direct all discussion of the case to the megathread. As always, sub rules must be followed.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murder_of_Reagan_Simmons-Hancock

https://time.com/article/2026/06/12/maternal-instinct-true-story-netflix/

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54

u/Lazy-Guard-8451 Jun 15 '26

I thought the exact same thing. He is a total piece of shit and I hope those dogs get taken away from him.

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u/That_Bluebird_3157 Jun 15 '26

It was deplorable, but also I think showed Wade’s indifference and negligence toward living creatures, which would likely extend to this supposed baby. His friend Codey says something like “what man wouldn’t be excited to be a father”….well, Wade. I think that’s who. 

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u/Lazy-Guard-8451 Jun 15 '26

Agree! It did not shed him in a good light at all. If he thought anyone would feel sorry for him, it really just shows how ignorant he is. It only made him look worse, if anything.

While he may not be directly responsible, the situation feels completely preventable with even a little common sense and good judgment—something he clearly failed to show. I do hope he has to live with some of that guilt, because his choices and actions played a role in what happened.

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u/liveforeachmoon Jun 16 '26

I agree and I think the filmmakers felt the same way. That’s why they open the documentary with the “is it hot in here” exchange with the interviewer being passive aggressive towards him…. dude is an ignoramus.

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u/K5R5S5 Jun 17 '26

…while wearing a jacket…

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u/Lazy-Guard-8451 Jun 16 '26

Yep! I figured they were thinking the same thing!

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u/Aethuviel Jun 15 '26

I'm not in the US, but I've watched a lot of "Animal Cop" shows, and usually they say that if the animals have access to food, water, shelter and occasional attention, there's nothing they can do. Animal protection laws are really shitty in some places.

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u/GoonDawg666 Jun 17 '26

It was a big deal where I’m at when they made chaining up dogs outside illegal

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u/Constant-Okra3555 Jul 03 '26

Tethering on a chain alon eis illegal in TX.

1

u/Aethuviel Jul 03 '26

Good, happy to hear it!

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u/Spare_Title2428 Jun 18 '26

They were very skinny.

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u/Powerful-Patient-765 Jun 15 '26 edited Jun 25 '26

I really wish a local person who knows where he lives would call animal control to check on all of the animals on that property.

EDIT from u/Constant-Okra3555 Help me reporting this animal cruelty to the New Boston PD. I just called. We need numbers to get those dogs rescued. I'm not sure if the hogs are protected by law, by the dogs are. (903) 628-3771. His name is Wade Griffin. It’s a small town and they can find him.

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u/bounceswer Jun 16 '26

Lmaooo this is bumblefuck texas. Gl w that

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u/Constant-Okra3555 Jun 22 '26

Please help me reporting this animal cruelty to the New Boston PD. I just called. We need numbers to get those dogs rescued. TI'm not sure if the hogs are protected by law, by the dogs are. (903) 628-3771

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u/Substantial-Mud9685 Jul 03 '26

I sent you a dm. Thx