Maternal Instinct
What’s it rated? TV-MA
When? 2026
Where’s it showing? Netflix
Oh boy, this one’s a doozy. I remember this story popping up back in 2020. I’m sure other true crime junkies will too. Reagan Simmons was a mom-to-be, just a month away from welcoming daughter Braxlynn into the world. Her joy turned to tragedy when Taylor Parker, her wedding and pregnancy photographer, cruelly stole the baby by cutting her from Reagan’s womb, leading to the death of both mother and child.
Using body cam footage from police questioning Taylor in the hospital and interviews with those who knew Reagan and those who knew Taylor, this documentary weaves the tragic tale of what’s very clearly the consequences of unchecked mental illness, a lack of guidance, and total delusion.
Taylor pretended to be pregnant, even though those around her knew she’d had a hysterectomy following an ectopic pregnancy and even though she’d already had two children who were not in her care. But people played along, never knowing how far she would go to keep up the lie. Wholly tragic, there’s nothing to feel good about after watching this film, but Reagan deserves to have her name known, and to have people remember her in life, not in the way she died. (94 min.)
—Anna Starkey
This article appears in July 2 – July 9, 2026.
