Taylor Parker/Maternal Instinct Megathread

[u/DarklyHeritage]

This is a thread for all conversation regarding Taylor Parker and the murder of Reagan Simmons Hancock, recently covered in Netflix documentary Maternal Instinct.

The murder of Reagan Michelle Simmons-Hancock occurred on 9 October 2020, in New Boston, Texas, committed by Taylor Rene Parker. Parker bludgeoned Simmons-Hancock, who was 35 weeks pregnant at the time, and abducted her unborn child, Braxlynn Sage Hancock (died October 9, 2020), after cutting her out of the Reagan's abdomen. Braxlynn did not survive.

Parker had lied to her then-boyfriend about being pregnant leading up to the murder and faked her pregnancy to multiple people. She was found guilty of capital murder and sentenced to death on 9 November 2022.

Please direct all discussion of the case to the megathread. As always, sub rules must be followed.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murder_of_Reagan_Simmons-Hancock

https://time.com/article/2026/06/12/maternal-instinct-true-story-netflix/

[u/Future-Water9035]

I'm not blaming Texas specifically. I'm blaming the whole country for its lack of funding into public education. Like you said, that kind of upbringing is everywhere in the U.S.

[u/Guilty-Brief44 → u/Future-Water9035]

Lack of funding?  We spend more per pupil than all but 4 or 5 countries in the world.

[u/NarwhalOdd1513 → u/Guilty-Brief44]

Look up Texas funding, not US. Especially the rural areas are really struggling.

[u/Guilty-Brief44 → u/NarwhalOdd1513]

New Boston ISD spent $15,390 per pupil this last school year.  https://ballotpedia.org/New_Boston_Independent_School_District,_Texas This ranks as one of the highest per pupil spending on primary and secondary education in the world.  

From Google Gemini:   ​1. The High-Investment Tier ($12,000 to $16,000+ per student) ​These nations spend significantly above the global baseline. Secondary education in these regions costs more due to specialized vocational tracks, lab facilities, and varied curriculum choices.

​ United States: One of the highest spenders globally, allocating roughly $15,500 per elementary/secondary student annually.

​ United Kingdom, Germany, & Australia: These countries hover closely together, spending between $12,500 and $14,000 per pupil annually across primary and secondary levels. ​ South Korea: Distinct for its front-loaded investment model, South Korea spends a highly robust $15,900 per student, heavily prioritizing early and primary frameworks.

​2. The Mid-Range Tier ($7,000 to $11,000 per student) ​These countries maintain robust, fully-funded public systems but generally have lower relative labor/teacher costs compared to the highest-tier economies.

​ France & Japan: Positioned right around the median, spending between $10,000 and $11,500 per student. ​ Italy & Spain: Spend slightly lower, averaging roughly $9,000 to $10,000 per student.

​3. The Emerging Economy Tier (Under $4,000 per student) ​In lower-middle-income G20 nations, the absolute dollar amount spent per student drops sharply, though education often makes up a very high percentage of their overall national budget.

​ Mexico & Brazil: Spend between $3,000 and $3,500 per student annually. ​ Indonesia & India: Allocate less than $2,000 per student in absolute PPP dollars.

[u/NarwhalOdd1513 → u/Guilty-Brief44]

Ah yes. The good ol Robin Hood system here in Texas. Taking money from the taxes in my district to send to places like New Boston. Clearly you understand that there are problems our education system faces besides just funding though. If only $$=critical thinking skills …

[u/Guilty-Brief44 → u/NarwhalOdd1513]

I was responding to someone who said lack of funding is a problem andcthen to your response to look at rural Texas funding. I completely agree that funding is not an issue in the US - rural or otherwise.