Taylor Parker is literally fighting for her life. The punishment phase began this week for the Simms woman convicted of capital murder in the slaying of Reagan Hancock and the forcible removal and kidnapping of her unborn child, Braxlynn Sage Hancock in October 2020. Parker was noticeably more animated, writing notes and whispering to her defense team throughout the two days of testimony.
In opening statements, ADA Kelley Crisp told the jury, “You might ask yourself, ‘How can it get worse?’ Well, it can, and it’s about to.” She spoke of the rarity of fetal abduction, and said that even though the defense would try to argue that someone should have done or said something before the situation escalated to murder, that it was impossible to foresee a crime that has happened less than ten times in American history( fetal abduction in which both the mother and the unborn child die).
Defense attorney Jeff Harrelson said, “Just because someone is not legally insane, doesn’t mean they’re fine. Taylor’s not fine. She’s unstable, she’s unwell.” Parker’s ex-stepmother was first on the stand in the penalty phase, and testified that Parker was trouble from an early age. “If her mouth is moving, she’s lying,” she said. She also said Parker was “taught right from wrong.” In cross examination, defense attorney Jeff Harrelson alluded to drug use by Parker’s father, and abandonment by Parker’s mother, but under re-direct, the ex-stepmother testified that Parker’s brother grew up in the same household, and still leads a successful, normal life. Numerous ex-supervisors and co-workers of Parker’s took the stand, all recounting unsatisfactory work performance, unnecessary drama, and some even calling their time working with her a “nightmare.” The jury heard testimony of Parker’s excessive absences for excuses ranging from cancer to the suicide of her sister(Parker does not have a sister). The attorney who represented Parker’s first husband in her divorce testified that Parker knowingly and willingly relinquished custody of her son to her ex-husband in 2018, and that although he did not wish to seek child support, a Bowie County Judge ordered Parker to pay the minimum amount required by the state. Parker has never made a payment, and currently owes $8469.08.
