Texas woman accused of killing 21-year-old and cutting baby from her womb heads to trial

BOWIE COUNTY, Texas (TCD) -- The trial has started for a woman accused of killing a pregnant 21-year-old and ripping the baby from her womb as she faked her own pregnancy.

According to KTAL-TV, testimony in Taylor Parker’s trial began Monday, Sept. 12, as prosecutors detailed Parker’s alleged plot to find a newborn in time for her supposed fake expected due date. She reportedly faked a pregnancy, which involved buying a silicone baby belly online as well as a false sonogram. She also allegedly took elaborate steps to find pregnant women, such as allegedly waiting outside OB/GYN clinics in the area and visiting consignment shops.

She allegedly then honed in on 21-year-old Reagan Simmons Hancock.

According to Parker’s probable cause affidavit, on Oct. 9, 2020, New Boston Police called Texas State Police to assist in a capital murder investigation. A woman reportedly called New Boston Police at 10:18 a.m. that day because she had gone to her daughter’s home and found her dead.

The affidavit says body camera footage showed the victim, Hancock, was "on the ground, in the living room of the house face down with a large abundance of what appeared to be blood throughout the house."

There reportedly was blood "on the floor, furniture, walls, appliances, and other items in the home."

New Boston Police called EMS to help check on the status of Hancock’s baby when they found out she was 34 weeks pregnant. When they arrived, EMS turned her body over, "which revealed a very large cut" across her stomach and abdomen area.

The affidavit EMS concluded she "no longer had a baby in her stomach area."

About 45 minutes before Hancock’s mother found her dead, Parker was reportedly pulled over during a traffic stop and "was holding a newborn infant in her lap."

The child’s umbilical cord was reportedly still attached and "appeared to be coming out of the female’s pants, as if she had given birth to the child."

Parker was allegedly performing CPR on the child when police stopped her, and they were both transported to a hospital in Oklahoma. Medical personnel reportedly "determined Parker did not give birth to the child that was in the care of the hospital."

Parker allegedly told a special agent with the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation that she got into a fight with Hancock and took the child. She reportedly used a scalpel to get the baby out and then stuck the medical tool in Hancock’s neck. The baby did not survive.

She was arrested and booked into the Bowie County Jail on charges of capital murder by terroristic threat, murder, and kidnapping. According to KTAL, she pleaded not guilty but could face the death penalty if convicted.

Prior to allegedly killing Hancock, Parker reportedly conducted plenty of research on vaginal and C-section births and how to obtain a birth certificate for babies not born in a hospital.

Her OB/GYN testified Parker underwent a partial hysterectomy in 2014 and had her tubes tied. She reportedly faked the pregnancy because she did not want her husband to break up with her, KTAL reports.

Parker reportedly wanted more children with her new husband and asked her friends to be a surrogate because she could not have kids and offered to pay $100,000. One friend testified she became "obsessive" about her infertility.

According to KTAL, a medical examiner determined Hancock was strangled to death.

Parker’s trial is reportedly expected continue for about a month.

MORE:

• Taylor Parker trial: mountain of evidence reveals extensive lengths to fake pregnancy - KTAL
• Testimony underway in ETX fetal abduction, capital murder trial - KTAL
• State of Texas vs. Taylor Rene Parker Complaint/Probable Cause Affidavit
• East Texas woman accused of murder, kidnapping in death of mother, baby removed from womb faces death penalty, 1/22/2022 - KTAL
• Prosecutors reveal new theory about how New Boston woman was killed before baby was cut from womb, 5/28/2021 - KTAL