Woman convicted on capitol murder charge for stabbing pregnant woman in order to steal her baby

New Boston, Texas: On Monday, October 3, the jury of six men and six women deliberated for just about an hour before returning their verdict of guilty to Judge John Tidwell.

29-year-old Taylor Rene Parker's trial began on Monday, September 12 and involved the testimony of more than 60 witnesses.

On October 9, 2020 Parker brutally attacked 21-year-old Reagan Michelle Hancock in her home and removed her unborn baby from her womb. Regan's 3-year-old daughter was home at the time.

During opening statements her defense attorney attempted to set the ground work for the dismissal of the kidnapping charge. The addition of the kidnapping charge against Parker is what elevated the murder charge to capitol murder.

Despite his efforts, the prosecution was able to successfully prove to the jury, based on the testimony of several medical professionals, that Braxlynn Sage Hancock had a heartbeat when Parker cut her from Reagan Michelle Hancock's womb.

"We have methodically laid out what she (Parker) did, why she did it, all the moving parts, and all the collateral damage," First Assistant Bowie County District Attorney Kelley Crisp said during closing statements. "The best evidence the state of Texas has that the baby was born alive is that Taylor Parker said it wasn't."

Assistant District Attorney Lauren Richards called Parker an actress saying, "Taylor Parker played every role, every act... putting on a show to keep Wade Griffin. She played a farm girl, wanting to do the right thing with her family land. She played a millionaire heiress... she played a pregnant girlfriend. She never gives up the act."

"And she was so convincing," Richards continued, "that reasonable people start to doubt their own sanity."

"In the past two weeks, the evidence has never been more clear," Richards said. "She's a liar, a manipulator, and now she's gonna be held accountable for it."

On October 12 the jury will hear testimony during the punishment phase of the case. At that time they will determine if Parker will receive a sentence of death or life in prison without parole.

Reagan's aunt, Jamie Mason, expressed relief following the verdict, and thanked the jury saying, "We thank them so much. We prayed this would be the verdict, but please pray for the family, because it's still a hard time."