After Taylor Parker was convicted of murdering Reagan Simmons Hancock, her relatives have distanced themselves, testifying during the trial but opting out of her life thereafter.
While her former partner, Wade Griffin, and his acquaintances made their voices heard in Netflix’s series Maternal Instinct, Parker’s family chose to limit their input to their courtroom statements.
To get an insight into the individuals who raised and shared their lives with Parker, explore the information provided below:
Who is Taylor Parker’s mother?
According to KTAL, Shona Prior spoke in court regarding a medical emergency that resulted in Parker undergoing a hysterectomy in 2015.
When Parker was under anesthesia due to complications from endometriosis, including cysts and scarring, doctors sought consent from Prior and Parker’s then-husband, Tommy Wacasey, to perform a crucial procedure, as reported by the news outlet.
“I don’t think she was upset until after they got home,” Prior told the court. “She expressed a little bit of anger about having a hysterectomy. I think she was planning on having more children.”
During the 2022 trial, Prior had also given testimony about Parker’s childhood and pregnancy hoax.
“Not much you can do about a fake pregnancy,” Prior said, according to People. “She knew she wasn’t pregnant. We knew she wasn’t pregnant. There was no need to come up with a plan. We figured the lie would be exposed. He would figure it out.”
Prior opted not to participate in Maternal Instinct and has largely stayed out of the public eye since the trial.
Who is Taylor Parker’s father?
Prior and Mark Morton divorced in 2005. Parker and her brother Zachary Morton split time living with both parents, according to KTAL News.
While Parker’s dad was often discussed, Morton himself never actually testified during the murder trial or sentencing proceedings, per The Tab.
According to KTAL, Prior testified that Morton attended Parker’s gender reveal party while knowing their daughter was unable to become pregnant.
Like Prior, Morton didn’t appear in Maternal Instinct and has not given interviews about his daughter’s case.
Who is Taylor Parker’s brother?
Zachary Morton testified about his frustrations with Parker leading up to her killing Hancock and removing Hancock’s unborn child from her womb.
“I was tired of the lies,” he said, per KTAL News. “If she wants to lie, feel free, but the moment you bring me into a lie it becomes my problem, and I don’t want anybody misrepresenting me or lying and bashing me.”
Parker’s brother has yet to speak on her crimes outside of court testimony, nor has he shared any details about their family’s life in the aftermath of her conviction. He also did not appear in Maternal Instinct.
Where are Taylor Parker’s children today?
Parker was just 17 years old when she gave birth to a daughter she shared with then-boyfriend Donald Whiteside, according to the court records. She later welcomed a son with Wacasey.
After Parker’s conviction, Prior was granted custody of her granddaughter and testified that she would seek counseling for the child, per KTAL News.
Wacasey already had full custody of their son when Parker was arrested in 2020 (they divorced in 2017), according to KSLA.
Parker is awaiting execution on Texas Department of Correction’s O’Daniel Unit in Gatesville, Texas. No execution date has been set.
Why Didn’t Taylor Parker Appear in Maternal Instinct
Director Jessica Dimmock refrained from speaking with Parker for the documentary.
“Obviously, Reagan and her family are the most severe and the biggest victims in this, but [there are] other people that she deceived, other people that she hurt along the way, coworkers, former friends,” she told Oxygen in an exclusive interview. “It just felt like it really needed to be told from their perspective.”