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?’...