Real life imitating the film industry? Or vice versa?
A 27-year old Simms, Texas woman was found guilty of murder for killing a 21-year-old pregnant woman and abducting her unborn child. After three weeks of deliberation, the Bowie County jury found Taylor Rene Parker guilty of capital murder. She killed Reagan Michelle Simmons-Hancock in October 2020 and stole the victim’s baby from her womb.
In the most gruesome way, she beat up her victim and removed the unborn baby. After listening to heartbreaking testimonies, the 12-member jury was convinced that Parker was guilty of a capital murder, despite her lawyers’ attempts to get her convicted with first-degree murder. The lawyers argued that at the time the baby was removed from her mothers womb, the baby was already dead, suggesting that the kidnapping charge should be dismissed.
Jeff Harrelson, one of Parker’s attorneys, said in his closing argument to the jury that a baby not born alive cannot be kidnapped, reminding them of their opening statements, which had put a lot of focus on definitions.
The prosecutors, however, argued that several medical doctors had confirmed that the child had been born with a heartbeat. During her closing arguments, Kelley Crisp, a prosecutor in the case, told the jury that their team had shown them what Parker did, her reasons for committing the murder, how everything happened, and the damage sustained from her selfish actions.
“We have methodically laid out what she (Parker) did, why she did it, all the moving parts, and all the collateral damage. The best evidence the state of Texas has that baby was born alive is that Taylor Parker said it wasn’t,” said prosecutor Kelley Crisp.
Speaking to the jury, prosecutor Lauren Richards said that the evidence they had presented in front of the jury against Parker was damning. She referred to Parker as a liar and a manipulator, adding that she would be held accountable for her actions.
Parker had even faked a pregnancy, leading up to the killing.
Richards reminded the jury of Parker’s brutal attack on the pregnant woman, with details so distressing that the courtroom attendees, staff and juror were seen to wince and cry.
In an attempt to get the jury into Reagan’s shoes, she emotionally brought up the pain that the victim must have been in when Parker cut her open. She said that Reagan was still alive when Taylor took the baby out of her womb. Taylor then went into a murderous rampage, as she did not want the victim to survive.
Reagan died a slow, painful and miserable death.
The baby died shortly after.
When a Texas trooper stopped Taylor, she lied that she had given birth on the side of the road and that the baby had stopped breathing. She and the baby were rushed to the hospital, where the child was pronounced dead.
Taylor will be handed her sentence on October 12, with the prosecution seeking the death penalty, although jurors may recommend life imprisonment without parole.
