True crime enthusiasts have been left deeply unsettled by Netflix's latest documentary, Maternal Instinct. Released on 12 June, the factual film chronicles the chilling case of Taylor Parker, who appeared to have the perfect life as she and her partner Wade Griffin eagerly awaited the arrival of their first child.
Parker enthusiastically documented her pregnancy on social media and even organised a gender reveal celebration for her unborn child. Yet as Parker's due date approached, those closest to her began to harbour doubts about her pregnancy. When the reality finally came to light, it proved far more shocking and disturbing than anybody could have possibly anticipated.
What Happened to the Baby in Maternal Instinct?
Warning: This article contains references to baby loss and other details that some readers may find distressing.
Maternal Instinct opens with footage of Parker contacting the emergency services while driving with a newborn infant in her lap. She is stopped by a State Trooper and claims to have just given birth, insisting she urgently requires medical attention for her baby. Upon arrival at hospital, medical staff swiftly determine that Parker had not given birth and displayed no evidence of having been pregnant. She is detained and subjected to police questioning regarding the origins of the child.
Tragically, the infant passed away following admission to hospital. Parker had in fact killed the baby's mother, Reagan Simmons-Hancock, and removed her unborn daughter Braxlynn from her womb. Parker then fled the scene of the crime with baby Braxlynn, leaving victim Simmons-Hancock to die alone alongside her three-year-old daughter.
How Did Taylor Parker Deceive Everyone?
Before her tragic death, Simmons-Hancock had grown close to Parker, who had learned of her pregnancy. Parker had even taken Simmons-Hancock's engagement and wedding photos for her. As the documentary reveals, the fabricated pregnancy was merely one strand of Parker's elaborate network of deceit, which also encompassed falsehoods about her finances, medical conditions and family relationships.
Prior to her relationship with Wade, Parker had undergone a permanent sterilisation procedure that physically blocked her tubes. Eighteen months later, doctors discovered a cyst on one of her ovaries, leading to a hysterectomy — the surgical removal of the uterus — which meant she couldn't fall pregnant as she didn't have a womb.
What Happened to Taylor Parker?
Once Parker's story rapidly fell apart and the truth emerged, she was taken into custody and brought to trial. In 2022, she was found guilty of capital murder and sentenced to death. Having appealed against her conviction, she currently remains on death row in Texas.
The Sands National Helpline provides support for anyone who has been affected by the death of a baby. The telephone helpline is free to call from landlines and mobiles on 0808 164 3332.
Maternal Instinct is streaming on Netflix now.
