After Taylor Parker was convicted in the murder of Reagan Simmons-Hancock, she expressed remorse for the crime in a handwritten letter that she sent to her former boyfriend’s father.
In the emotional note obtained by TMZ, Parker, 33, directly addressed ex Wade Griffin’s father, Jimmy Griffin, and asked for forgiveness. While she acknowledged she might not deserve his forgiveness, she said, “I’ve asked God for forgiveness and I believe He has showed me it.”
Parker touched on her faith, family and her relationship with Jimmy and Wade in the letter.
She also thanked Jimmy for the role he played in her life, stating that he “created a bond” with her and she will “forever cherish” their relationship. Additionally, Parker called Jimmy a wise man and said he taught her valuable lessons. She also said that he taught her about the importance of forgiveness.
As the letter continued, Parker urged Jimmy to be patient with Wade and insisted that her ex wanted to make him proud. “Wade is an amazing, strong, intelligent, loving man. He just struggles to show it,” she wrote.
Parker added that she felt lost and admitted she had many unanswered questions following her conviction. “I don’t understand how this happened or why. But I miss my kids and family. But I’m okay. I’ve prayed,” she said.
She wrapped up the letter by asking for forgiveness and reiterating how much she cares about Jimmy and Wade. “I loved you like a dad Mr. Jimmy. Please know that I truly loved Wade as well,” Parker wrote.
The letter ended with Parker sharing that she also wrote a letter to Wade, but had not sent it yet. She then asked Jimmy to not tell Wade about the letter for him.
Parker met Wade in 2019, and they quickly began a whirlwind romance. Just months into their relationship, she falsely claimed she was pregnant with their child in January 2020. However, his family grew concerned when her due date came and went and she never went into later.
Weeks after her alleged September 22, 2020, due date, Taylor killed her pregnant friend Simmons-Hancock on October 9, 2020. After she strangled and stabbed Simmons-Hancock, she performed a C-section to remove the unborn child and fled the scene with the newborn, umbilical cord and placenta. Parker later called 911 from a highway and claimed she had given birth on the side of the road.
Parker was then transported to McCurtain Memorial Hospital, where doctors concluded she had not given birth. She was then interviewed by an officer and was arrested that same day after she was connected to Simmons-Hancock and her daughter’s deaths.
She was found guilty of capital murder and kidnapping in October 2022, and was later sentenced to death.
Her story recently gained national attention after the crime was featured in Netflix’s documentary Maternal Instinct.
