What to Know
The new Netflix documentary Maternal Instinct takes viewers on a wild ride through the devious mind of Taylor Parker, a Texas mother who just wanted a baby. The premise seems innocent enough, but we learn very early on that Parker’s intentions were anything but innocent. Parker lied about nearly every aspect of her life, including a pregnancy with boyfriend Wade Griffin. Even though her belly seemed to grow, she had ultrasound photos, a name picked out, and purchased all the baby gear she needed, Parker was never pregnant.
She’d befriended Reagan Simmons-Hancock, killed her, and attempted to steal her baby. Maternal Instinct features interviews with all the big players who tell their stories, except Parker.
Director Jessica Dimmock intentionally kept Parker out.
Dimock told USA Today it felt important to her to learn about the implications of Parker’s actions. She didn’t want to just retell the story in graphic detail; she wanted emotion from the victims.
“What I really wanted to do was include the perspectives of the people that it affected the most,” Dimmock said. “How did Wade feel about it at the time? How does he feel about it now, looking back? How is Reagan’s family altered forever?”
She added that gathering facts about the case, like text messages and internet searches, gave plenty of insight into Parker’s thoughts, and listening to her speak felt unnecessary.
“I didn’t feel that for this film, from this vantage point and including these characters, that I wanted to necessarily put them in the same bucket,” Dimmock explained.
Parker’s victims went through living hell.
@greenbobat The ending of Netflix’s “Maternal Instinct” is horrifying—but it also leaves viewers with a lot of unanswered questions about Taylor Parker, Wade Griffin, and what happened after the murder. Here’s everything the documentary didn’t fully explain. #TrueCrime #Netflix #MaternalInstinct #TaylorParker #truestory ♬ original sound – greenbobat
Watching the documentary, it’s easy to see that Parker’s lies ruined many people’s lives. Dimmock told USA Today she felt “honored” to speak with Griffin, his mother, and so many other people whom Parker victimized with evil words, intentions, and actions.
“They are such an exceptional family. They are so strong. They are coming from the right place. They only do this to remember Reagan, to talk about Reagan, to talk about what happened to her,” Dimmock said of Simmons-Hancock’s family.
‘Maternal Instinct’ isn’t Meant to Make Parker Famous
Maternal Instinct is meant to give a voice to Simmons-Hancock, her unborn baby, and her family. Demmick also hoped to shed light on elements in the justice system that don’t feel just.
“It’s also about laws that failed Reagan’s family. The medical practitioners [aware of Parker’s hysterectomy] can’t break laws because those laws are there for a reason. But they knew something was off, and they could not say anything. They could not warn more specifically,” she shared.
A judge sentenced Parker to death row. She currently resides at the Patrick L. O’Daniel Unit in Gatesville, Texas. She will never see the other side of a prison fence. Parker, now 33 years old, could live for decades or days, but a court ensured her death would happen in prison. Dimmock told USA Today that people can use Wikipedia to learn more about Parker. It’s her mission no one ever forgets her victims.
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