TRUE CRIME When a Fake Friend Steals Your Unborn Child

Reagan Simmons-Hancock was born on November 14, 1998, in Hope, Arkansas, to parents Jessica and Brandon Simmons. By 2020, they had divorced and both remarried. Reagan's mother married her stepfather Marcus Brooks when she was nine. Reagan was part of a big, blended family, with two sisters, Emily Simmons and Destiny Brooks, and two brothers, Clayton Brooks and Sawyer Simmons. Reagan, with her blonde hair and sunny smile, was only 21 years old at the time of our story.

Reagan married Homer Hancock in September 2018, and they had two daughters. They bought a home in New Boston, Texas, close to the Arkansas border. According to her family, Reagan was an amazing mother and a joy to everyone who knew her. She was a member of the JC Cowboy Church across the state line in Arkansas and worked in customer service at the Flying Burger restaurant in Texarkana, Texas. Reagan was known for her strength and gentleness, her favorite flowers were sunflowers, and she was planning to start attending college classes in the spring of 2021, balancing being a parent, working, and studying.

Reagan had a close relationship with her mother, Jessica. They talked and texted each other constantly, always starting and ending their days with "I love you." Reagan enjoyed helping people and deeply valued her friendships. She could always make her friends smile, even in tough times. One of her friends was Taylor Parker.

Taylor Rene Parker was not a good friend. She had a complicated past filled with lies and deceit. Taylor married Tommy Way Casey, who raised her daughter from a previous relationship as his own, and they had a son together. Despite having her tubes tied, a gastric bypass, and a hysterectomy, Taylor spun tales of pregnancies and severe illnesses, including cancer and multiple sclerosis, to garner sympathy and attention. Her lies strained her relationships and led to multiple affairs and fraudulent activities.

Taylor's relationship with Reagan started when she took Reagan's engagement photos in July 2019. By September, Taylor photographed Reagan's wedding to Homer. Despite not being very close, Taylor portrayed their friendship as strong and intimate, especially on social media.

Taylor's new relationship with Wade Griffin, starting in July 2019, was built on more lies. She convinced him she was wealthy and pregnant, even though she couldn't have children. By September 2020, Taylor was desperate to maintain her facade of pregnancy and took drastic, horrifying steps to do so.

On October 9, 2020, Reagan was found murdered in her home, her unborn child cut from her womb. Taylor had driven to Reagan's house that morning, attacked her, and kidnapped the baby. After being pulled over by a Texas state trooper for erratic driving, Taylor claimed she had just given birth in her car and needed to get to a hospital. The baby, however, was cold and unresponsive, showing signs of having been delivered hours earlier.

Reagan's mother discovered her body, a scene of unimaginable violence and tragedy. The attack left blood everywhere, and Reagan's 3-year-old daughter was alone with her mother's body for over an hour. Despite Taylor's elaborate lies, forensic evidence and testimonies quickly unraveled her deceit.

Taylor Parker was arrested and charged with capital murder and kidnapping. Her trial revealed the extent of her manipulations and the brutal nature of her crime. Reagan's family and community were devastated, but they found some solace in the justice served.

This heartbreaking story reminds us of the profound impact of lies and the unimaginable depths of human cruelty. It also highlights the strength and unity of a community in the face of tragedy, and the enduring love of a family who will forever cherish the memories of Reagan and her unborn daughter, Braxlynn Sage.