10 Shocking Details the Maternal Instinct Documentary Left Out

10 Shocking Details the Maternal Instinct Documentary Left Out

Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’re looking at shocking details that “Maternal Instinct” either excluded or barely touched upon.

The Nature Behind Taylor Parker’s Weight Gain

The documentary mentions aspects of Taylor Parker’s upbringing, namely her struggles with weight. Yet, it doesn’t go into great detail. According to her mother, Shonna Prior, Parker participated in athletic activities such as baseball, basketball, and cheerleading throughout her elementary years. During third grade, though, she started experiencing stomach issues, saying she was in too much pain to go to school. Matters improved in fourth grade, but when Parker was twelve, her mom and dad split. With her parents fighting, Taylor often stayed with her father and his mother, who Prior described as a “heavyset lady” who “used food as comfort.” According to Prior, “She tried to comfort Taylor in the same manner.” By age 14, Parker reportedly weighed around 250 pounds.

The Wrongful Death Suit

“Maternal Instinct” ends with the revelation that Parker was found guilty of capital murder and sentenced to death. This isn’t the only case brought against Parker, however. Homer Hancock is the widow of Reagan Simmons-Hancock, whom Parker murdered along with their unborn child, ​​Braxlynn Sage. Shortly after Parker’s conviction, Hancock not only filed a negligence and wrongful death lawsuit against her, but also against her ex-boyfriend, Wade Griffin. The suit accuses Parker of driving recklessly with Braxlynn upon removing her from Simmons-Hancock. Parker was reportedly using Griffin’s car, hence why he’s named in the suit as well. The lawsuit is apparently still ongoing. Homer Hancock has mostly stayed out of the public eye since this tragedy, not being interviewed for the documentary.

Parker’s Alleged Assault

Towards the end of Parker’s trial, Lauren Elmore, a master social worker and advanced practitioner, spoke before the jury. Elmore interviewed Parker for about five hours, mainly unpacking her childhood. During her biopsychosocial assessment, Elmore shared that a family friend allegedly assaulted Parker when she was a young teenager. Elmore claimed it occurred at a “drug house” while Parker’s father was seeing a girlfriend. Parker’s grandmother supposedly didn’t report this, while her parents weren’t much help either. When asked if this was supposed to be an excuse for Parker’s heinous actions, Elmore replied, “Absolutely not. It’s for an explanation. There is no excuse for her behavior.” It may be an explanation, but some, including Parker’s brother, have questioned details of Parker’s story.

Looking Up License Plates

Parker went to extreme lengths to keep up the illusion she was having a baby, culminating in the loss of two innocent lives. Reagan Simmons-Hancock wasn’t the only pregnant woman that Parker considered pursuing. Online evidence suggests that Parker intensely searched for places where she could find pregnant women in the area, such as maternity consignment shops and OB clinics. Parker reportedly made appointments at these clinics, both inside and out. Her search history also showed that Parker looked up Texas license plate numbers. One of the numbers was traced to a young pregnant woman. This evidence suggests that Parker was open to the idea of taking a baby from a stranger. In the end, though, she targeted someone who thought Parker was a friend.

What Happened to Kynlee

The atrocities that Taylor Parker committed are even more disheartening knowing that Reagan Simmons-Hancock’s three-year-old daughter, Kynlee, was in the house during the murders. Like Parker, Reagan became pregnant as a teenager. Following Kynlee’s birth, she met and married Homer Hancock. According to Reagan’s mother, Jessica, her daughter was like a “mama bear” with Kynlee. They were essentially each other’s worlds. When Reagan was murdered, Kynlee was found hiding under her bedsheets. While Kynlee thankfully wasn’t physically harmed, her world was forever changed. Homer Hancock has continued to raise Kynlee, who remains close with her extended family. Jessica says that she can still see a lot of Reagan in Kynlee, often reminding her granddaughter “what a good mommy she had.”

Experts on Parker’s Mental State

Various medical experts spoke at Parker’s trial, with most of them agreeing that Parker didn’t have a mental illness. That’s not to say Parker didn’t demonstrate concerning traits. Psychologist Dr. Timothy Proctor noted her “pathological lying and manipulativeness,” although he felt this didn’t constitute a mental illness. Dr. Michael Arambula testified that Parker showed signs of Cluster B personality disorders, but he argued she was fit to stand trial, especially since murder is premeditated. Neurologist Dr. Siddhartha Nadkarni suggested that “something is very wrong with [Parker’s] brain,” most likely a “frontal lobe dysfunction, frontal lobe syndrome.” Dr. Edward Gripon thought Parker may have a “mental condition,” while counselor Makesha Parrish said, “she’s not a typical inmate.” Yet, nobody officially diagnosed Parker with a mental illness.

Hysterectomy Might Have Been Done Without Consent

Many knew that Taylor Parker was lying about her pregnancy because it wasn’t physically possible. Parker had received a hysterectomy after the birth of her second child. While this is a key point in “Maternal Instinct,” the documentary excludes the allegation that Parker didn’t agree to the hysterectomy. Parker was reportedly in surgery for an ectopic pregnancy following a tubal ligation gone wrong. When a cyst was also found on her right ovary, it was decided to perform a hysterectomy as well. Parker’s legal team claimed that since she was “under anesthesia,” she didn’t give her consent. Dr. Christopher Mason argued otherwise, saying that Parker had already chosen to undergo “permanent sterilization,” knowing that it meant she couldn’t have more children.

Parker’s Previous Marriages

Before meeting Wade Griffin, Parker had already become pregnant twice, but the documentary doesn’t share much about her past relationships. Donald Whiteside was the father of Parker’s first child, Emersyn, although Shona Prior claims that he wasn’t a present parent. Parker went on to marry Tommy Wacasey, with whom she had a son named Trey. A few years later, the couple separated and divorced. Only 11 days after her first marriage officially ended, she married Hunter Parker. While Parker wanted to have a child with her new husband, she already had a hysterectomy. According to Hunter, Parker neglected to tell him this until after their nuptials. Ultimately divorcing, Hunter claimed that Parker lied about having medical issues and receiving a sizable inheritance.

How Parker Treated Her Other Children

The documentary doesn’t get into specifics about Parker’s daughter, Emersyn, or her son, Trey. When his parents divorced, Trey was reportedly placed in his father’s care because his mother didn’t fight for custody. According to Parker’s brother, Zachary Morton, his sister’s priorities shifted “when she was chasing another man.” Citing her relationship with Wade Griffin, Morton alleged that Parker “didn’t necessarily give enough attention to [her daughter] at that time.” Morton felt there were other periods where Parker prioritized her children. Shonna Prior also testified that Parker loved her kids and they loved her back. Prior now has custody of Emersyn, while Trey remains with his father. Although Emersyn isn’t aware of all the details, Prior claims she knows that her mother took two lives.

Taylor Parker’s Perspective

While several individuals close to the case were interviewed for “Maternal Instinct,” Taylor Parker’s screen time is limited to archived footage. Director Jessica Dimmock decided against giving Parker a platform, feeling that this story needed to be told from the perspective of her victims. Not just Reagan and her family, but the numerous other people that Taylor deceived. Based on Dimmock’s research, Taylor doesn’t seem remorseful. Even if Taylor did express remorse, Dimmock doesn’t think she’d believe her. Dimmock ultimately felt there was nothing Taylor’s perspective could add to the documentary, saying, “it felt disrespectful to those that she hurt the most to include her take.” While Parker has stayed mostly silent since her conviction, she’s made multiple appeals that’ve been denied.

Did you watch “Maternal Instinct?” Let us know in the comments.