A new true-crime documentary directed by Jessica Dimmock, titled "Maternal Instinct," examines the gruesome 2020 murder of Reagan Simmons-Hancock and her unborn baby in New Boston, Texas. The film, which premiered on Netflix on June 12, delves into the elaborate deception orchestrated by Taylor Parker, who was subsequently convicted of capital murder and sentenced to death. The Wall Street Journal highlighted the documentary, stating, "Director Jessica Dimmock’s true-crime documentary examines the gruesome murder of a mother and her baby in New Boston, Texas."
The documentary unravels the complex web of lies spun by Taylor Parker, who faked a pregnancy for ten months to maintain a relationship with her boyfriend, Wade Griffin. Parker, who had undergone a hysterectomy years prior, fabricated medical documents and staged social media posts to convince those around her that she was expecting. Her deception escalated as her fabricated due date approached, leading to a desperate and violent act.
Reagan Simmons-Hancock, 21, was 35 weeks pregnant when she was brutally attacked and killed by Parker on October 9, 2020, in her New Boston home. Parker performed a crude C-section to abduct Simmons-Hancock's unborn daughter, Braxlynn Sage, who tragically did not survive. The investigation began when a Texas state trooper pulled over Parker, who was driving erratically with the deceased infant, claiming she had just given birth.
Parker was arrested after medical staff confirmed she had not recently given birth, and evidence at Simmons-Hancock's home revealed the horrific crime. In October 2022, a Bowie County jury found Parker guilty of capital murder, and she was sentenced to death, becoming the youngest woman on Texas's death row. As of June 2026, Parker remains incarcerated at the Patrick L. O'Daniel Unit in Gatesville, pursuing her remaining appeals.
"Maternal Instinct" features interviews with Reagan Simmons-Hancock's family, Taylor Parker's former friends, and Wade Griffin, focusing on the profound impact of Parker's actions. Director Jessica Dimmock, known for her work on "The Texas Killing Fields" and "Unsolved Mysteries," chose to center the narrative on the victims and those affected rather than the perpetrator. The documentary offers a disturbing yet respectful account of the events, utilizing authentic police footage and trial records.
