Death row killer complained to mother about life behind bars

According to Parker, life behind bars has not been spectacular, especially when it comes to lighting. She regretted that the lights in her cell were left on 24 hours a day.

Her mother was concerned about a medical diagnosis: her hemiplegic migraines. Prior told Parker, “If those damn lights cause a migraine episode, the DN prison will have more problems with you than they have now.”

“I mean, they can’t facilitate you. And maybe, just maybe, you should keep your eyes open as long as possible for another episode to happen,” she continued. “But I’m just saying it’s a matter of time before that comes back. And they can’t do that… they’re not equipped to facilitate an individual in that kind of condition, the condition that you were in before.”

Parker further admits that a psychiatrist offered her a sleep aid to help with “depression” and “night terrors.”

Parker murdered then-21-year-old Reagan Simmons-Hancock on October 9, 2020, by stabbing her more than 100 times and crushing her skull with a hammer in her Texas home.

The victim was pregnant at the time and Parker removed the baby from her body with a scalpel.

Simmons-Hancock died in front of her three-year-old daughter while Parker fled with the newborn. Ultimately, Parker was arrested while taking the baby, who unfortunately died, to a hospital in Oklahoma.

According to Parker, police were out to get her after she was taken into custody – a claim her mother quickly backtracked.

However, her mother did not allow Parker to avoid responsibility.

“Well, Taylor, you know, I understand what you’re saying, but I don’t think you’re thinking about that the way you should be thinking about it,” Prior replied. “I mean, it’s not just when you do something terrible and they try to throw the book at you.”

Furthermore, Prior expressed hope that Parker’s attorney would have her undergo a psychological evaluation “because something isn’t right.”

Although her mother pushed back against Parker’s claims, Prior did not completely throw her daughter away. In fact, she helped strategize a defense plan, including whether to bring her to trial.

In another phone conversation, the pair discussed whether Parker should be allowed to wear makeup in court. Her mother argued that prosecutors hoped she would look like a “homeless criminal.”

“They don’t want you to look like a human because that would be beneficial to you and harmful to them,” she said.

Although Parker seemed to enjoy wearing makeup, Prior thought that if the court prohibited her from doing so, there could be discrimination.

Prior said: “So the point is that if they try to discriminate against you as a person, it’s going to work to your advantage in the long run because they’re not giving you a fair chance.”

Parker was also not allowed to see her children by her ex-husband and mother. Prior took on the role of guardian of Parker’s daughter, while her ex-husband took custody of their daughter.

The convicted killer admitted that the blockade “really upsets” her. In response, Prior stood steadfast in accepting consequences, while also recognizing that this was likely painful for her daughter.

“I’m sure,” Prior sympathized. ‘But you know what? I hate to say this, but if you had thought about the children you had on earth, you might not be in the situation you are in now.”

“But I mean, that’s what was done,” she added. “And you have to move on and deal with the consequences as best you can. You’re not the only one dealing with it. We’re all dealing with it.”