A Texas woman faked a pregnancy, then killed her pregnant friend and stole her foetus, a court heard.
Taylor Parker, 29, is accused of murdering Regan Simmons-Hancock, 21, and her unborn baby in New Boston in 2020.
Parker pleaded not guilty to capital murder, abduction, and non-capital murder in connection with the infant. If convicted of capital murder, she faces the death sentence or life without parole.
Authorities say Parker faked a pregnancy for 10 months to avoid losing Wade Griffin.
She got a hysterectomy, so she couldn’t have further children.
She’s accused of fabricating ultrasounds and a gender reveal party while looking for a victim.
Assistant District Attorney Kelley Crisp told the Bowie County jury Monday that Parker was a ‘high-caliber actor’.
She stated, “Lies and deception are endless; the layers are astonishing.” To comprehend Oct. 9, you must understand the scam.
This began months in advance and ended in murder.
Parker is accused of abandoning Regan in front of her 3-year-old kid.
She stabbed and hacked Regan more than 100 times and smashed her head with a hammer before removing the baby.
Prosecutors allege she drove alone with the infant on her lap and placed the placenta in her own pants to make it look as if she had given birth.
Parker was stopped by a state policeman at 9.37am and was witnessed administering CPR on the baby before transporting him to the hospital.
Reagan’s mother contacted 911 after discovering her daughter covered in blood minutes before Parker stopped.
It coated the floor, furniture, walls, appliances, and other furnishings in the residence and left a big incision on Regan’s abdomen.
Parker said police she hadn’t given birth to the baby and had abused Reagan before abducting him.
Parker informed her then-boyfriend Wade Griffin she was expected to give birth on the murder day.
Griffin told investigators he was supposed to meet her at the hospital about lunchtime for the delivery.
After lying to Griffin about her pregnancy, Parker allegedly offered $100,000 for a surrogate.
Jeff Harrelson advised the six men and six women jurors to have an open mind.
‘It’s a factually and emotionally challenging situation,’ he added. The law frames these realities. Sometimes it’s grey’