Fatal Maternal Instinct: A Mother’s Deadly Lie: The True Crime Story of Obsession, Deception, and Murder by Randall Fuquay

Fatal Maternal Instinct examines the shocking case of Taylor Parker, who spent months convincing friends, family, and her boyfriend that she was pregnant when she was not. As her deception became increasingly difficult to maintain, she carried out a horrifying plan that led to the murder of 21-year-old Reagan Simmons-Hancock, who was 34 weeks pregnant. Drawing on court records, investigative evidence, psychiatric testimony, and trial proceedings, Randall Fuquay reconstructs the crime, the investigation that followed, and the legal battle that resulted in a landmark Texas ruling. The book explores themes of obsession, deception, mental health, and the devastating consequences of a fabricated identity.