Published 12:43 13 Jun 2026 GMT
Warning: This article may contain some distressing information.
Netflix viewers are warning others to prepare themselves before watching Maternal Instinct, a harrowing true crime documentary that explores one of the most heartbreaking murder cases.
The film examines the killing of 21-year-old Reagan Simmons Hancock, a pregnant woman from New Boston, Texas, whose unborn child was stolen in a horrifying attack in October 2020.
As the documentary unpacks the shocking investigation, many viewers have been left deeply unsettled by the story.
One person took to X to share: "I have so many questions. This by far is the most disturbing documentary I’ve watched. #MaternalInstinct."
Another added: "Netflix's #MaternalInstinct is the most jaw-dropping true crime doc I've seen."
A third viewer commented: "I’ve seen MANY documentaries, and this by far has taken the cake for me thus far………….."
Meanwhile, one particularly shaken viewer admitted: "Well I’m going to be nauseous for the rest of the weekend over this documentary."
Directed by Jessica Dimmock and produced by Joshua Levine, Samantha DeMaria, and Jon Bardin, Maternal Instinct follows the investigation into Taylor Parker.
According to the documentary, Parker, from Texas, began dating roofer and hog trapper Wade Griffin in 2019.
Early in their relationship, she told him she was pregnant and spent months building an entire life around that claim.
Evidence presented in court revealed that Parker staged medical appointments and even organized a gender reveal party.
Griffin explained in the documentary that because the pregnancy occurred during the COVID-19 pandemic, Parker was able to tell him he couldn't attend appointments due to restrictions, preventing him from independently verifying her claims.
The documentary reveals that the woman's alleged lies extended far beyond her pregnancy.
According to the people interviewed, she claimed to come from a rich family and spoke about a future inheritance that would eventually make her a millionaire.
Wade recalls being swept up in the life she promised. "She just shined," he says in the documentary, adding: "She just kind of painted a pretty picture kind of for the future."
As doubts about the pregnancy began to grow, those closest to Parker started digging for answers.
Wade's mother, Connie, and family friend Stephanie Ott tried to confirm medical information but repeatedly found themselves hitting dead ends.
"She always had a counter," Connie says in the doc. "Everything I presented, she countered it."
The truth eventually came out when Stephanie contacted Parker's mother directly.
"'I've been waiting on this phone call,'" Stephanie recalls her saying. "'Taylor cannot have kids. She's had a hysterectomy…And there is no money at all anywhere.'"
Medical staff would later confirm Parker had previously undergone a hysterectomy, making pregnancy impossible.
By October 2020, Reagan was 35 weeks pregnant with her second daughter.
The young mother had previously hired Parker for photography work and had become acquainted with her over time.
On October 9, Hancock was found dead inside her home in New Boston. Investigators later determined she had suffered multiple stab wounds and blunt force trauma before her unborn baby was removed from her body, Time Magazine reported.
Her three-year-old daughter was inside the home during the attack but was not physically harmed.
Her newborn daughter, Braxlynn Sage, was taken from the scene.
Just hours after the attack, Parker was pulled over by a Texas state trooper for driving erratically near De Kalb.
She told officers she had just given birth and that the newborn in her vehicle was not breathing.
Emergency responders transported Parker and the baby to a hospital in Oklahoma. It was there that her story quickly began to crack.
Doctors found no evidence that Parker had recently given birth. DNA testing later confirmed that the infant was not hers but Hancock's daughter.
Investigators subsequently reconstructed what prosecutors described as a calculated attempt to maintain a false pregnancy by keeping a baby she could pass off as her own.
An Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation agent later informed Griffin what police believed had happened.
"I didn't really have no words for nothing at that point," he recalls in the documentary. "It was unimaginable, what she did."
Parker's trial began in 2022 and included testimony from more than 100 witnesses.
Prosecutors charged her with capital murder, arguing the killing occurred during the commission of kidnapping, making her eligible for the death penalty under Texas law.
On October 3, 2022, Parker was convicted of capital murder and later sentenced to death.
Subsequent appeals have failed to overturn either the verdict or sentence. The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals upheld the conviction, while a request for review by the US Supreme Court was also declined.
As of 2026, Parker remains on death row in Texas, where she is among only a small number of female inmates awaiting execution.
You can tune into Maternal Instinct on Netflix.
Published 10:53 12 Jun 2026 GMT
A new Netflix documentary is set to revisit a deeply disturbing case involving a Texas woman who was sentenced to death after being discovered in a car with a newborn baby while hiding a horrifying secret.
The film, titled Maternal Instinct, will be the latest addition to Netflix’s true crime catalogue and is expected to bring renewed attention to the case of Taylor Parker. Interest in true crime stories remains high, particularly following recent releases like The Crash, which focused on Mackenzie Shirilla and sparked widespread discussion.
Parker’s case stands out as one of the most shocking in recent years. She is currently one of only seven women on death row in Texas and was described in court as an “evil piece of flesh demon.”
Initially pulled over in 2020 for dangerous driving, Parker was covered in blood and had a newborn baby in her car, still attached to the umbilical cord.
She claimed she had just given birth by the roadside and was rushing to the hospital. However, that account was quickly unraveled.
Medical staff soon determined there were no signs that Parker had recently given birth.
It was then revealed that the blood belonged to her friend, 21-year-old Reagan Simmons-Hancock. Investigators found that Parker had murdered her earlier that day in an extremely violent attack, stabbing her more than 100 times before removing the baby from her womb using a scalpel. The baby did not survive.
Reagan’s three-year-old daughter was later discovered unharmed in the home, hiding under her bed covers.
Parker was subsequently found guilty of murder and kidnapping and sentenced to death, where she remains today. Evidence presented during the trial showed she had fabricated an elaborate story about being pregnant, even telling her boyfriend she was expecting and staging a gender reveal party. In reality, she had previously undergone a hysterectomy.
The prosecution detailed the brutality of the attack, which involved 113 sharp force injuries and both a knife and a hammer.
The official cause of death was ruled as “homicide from traumatic extraction from the uterus with both sharp and blunt force injuries.”
Parker’s defence team did not deny that she committed the killing. Instead, they challenged Texas law, arguing that a fetus should not be considered an “individual.”
They claimed the kidnapping charge, which contributed to the death penalty, was invalid because the baby had already died before being taken. This argument was ultimately rejected.
Following the sentencing, Reagan’s family expressed a sense of relief. Her mother, Jessica Brooks, said: “We are just glad justice has been served, not only for our family, our friends, the prosecution team, our community.”
Her sister, Emily Simmons, added: “I’m overwhelmed with happiness it’s over because she has been such a burden in our life for so long now that I haven’t been able to think about my sister without thinking about her.”
Published 15:02 05 Nov 2022 GMT
Viewers of Netflix's latest true crime docuseries are calling it one of the most "heartbreaking" shows they've ever watched.
Landing on the streaming platform on November 2, Killer Sally details the story of female bodybuilder, who spent 24 years of her life behind bars for the murder of her husband and fellow bodybuilder, Ray McNeil.
Sally, a former US marine and mother of two, used a shotgun to fatally wound her husband on Valentine's Day 1995. Despite the fact he repeatedly claimed that she acted in self-defense, she was convicted of second-degree murder in March of the following year.
"I just shot my husband because he just beat me up," Sally says to the 911 operator moments after she shot Ray.
Check out the gripping trailer below:The three-part series shares testimonies from Sally, her children, and those closest to her family. Sally insists that she had suffered years of abuse from her husband, with her children also recalling how their step-dad used to beat them.
Her son, John, says in the show: "He was like the devil to me."
"I remember how tortuous it used to be to have to sit there and watch him abuse my sister... and to know that I was next," John adds.
Sally, who married Ray in 1987, argued that she had a "right" to defend herself and that she "didn't want to die" at the hands of her husband. And throughout the three-part docuseries, viewers must decide if they can trust Sally's claims or believe that Ray's murder was premeditated.
The show also explores the effects of steroid abuse, the perception of muscular women in the public eye, and shows the moment jail surveillance cameras captured the moment Sally told her kids that they would have to go to a shelter as a result of her actions.
Following the show's debut on Netflix, viewers have taken to social media to share their thoughts on the docuseries.
"#KillerSally is one of the most heartbreaking documentaries I’ve watched," one Twitter user wrote, adding: "I don’t see a killer - I see a desperate woman protecting her family."
A second added: "Seeing Sally McNeil documentary #killersally and that interrogation room scene with her kids is so heartbreaking. No kid should have to go through that."
A third wrote: "I love documentaries. But, f**k.. this one really hit me. An outrageous and disgusting misjustice, a real and heartbreaking reflection of how domestic abuse can completely ripple through a family."
And columnist Karen Attiah tweeted: "I had never heard of the Sally McNeil story before #KillerSally doc. So much to unpack about society's attitudes towards abused women who aren't perfect victims...
"One thing is clear-- America heavily punishes women who use force to defend themselves against their abusers."
Despite the documentary being "heartbreaking" for some viewers - and the questions it has raised - Sally says she is only enjoying her newfound freedom.
Published 13:45 30 Dec 2025 GMT
Netflix’s latest true-crime documentary on Jodi Hildebrandt has left viewers feeling sick and outraged.
Evil Influencer: The Jodi Hildebrandt Story, directed by true crime staple Skye Borgman, hit Netflix on Tuesday, Dec. 30.
The film dives into the horrific 2023 abuse case that shocked Utah and the wider internet, featuring exclusive interviews with Franke family members speaking in-depth for the first time.
The film recounts how Hildebrandt - a licensed counselor and life coach who often worked with LDS [Latter Day Saints] families - and Ruby Franke, a Mormon influencer with a massive YouTube following, became collaborators in what prosecutors later described as religiously-motivated torture.
Franke had moved into Hildebrandt’s home in May 2023, shortly after separating from her husband, Kevin Franke.
It all unraveled on August 30, 2023, when Franke’s 12-year-old son escaped through a window of Hildebrandt’s Utah home and turned up at a neighbor’s house emaciated, with open wounds and duct tape on his limbs.
His 10-year-old sister was later found inside the home, malnourished, injured, and reportedly kept in a closet.
Inside the residence, police also discovered disturbing evidence such as hidden ropes, handcuffs, and a “safe room.”
Prosecutor Eric Clarke said the women used religion to justify abusing the children and claimed they were “casting the evil spirits".
Though Evil Influencer is consistent with Borgman’s style - giving space to victims and avoiding unnecessary sensationalism - some critics have questioned the documentary’s purpose given the sheer horror of its content.
The Guardian’s review noted the film “lays out an appalling but very simple story of extreme child abuse done in the name of God” and called for more introspection into how religious structures may enable such abuse.
Still, it’s the graphic, real-life nature of the case that has made the biggest impact on viewers.
For some, it’s simply too much.
“Half way through it and had to turn it off. I can’t look at either of these vile women without feeling sick,” one viewer posted on Reddit. “Husband too. F*** them all, disgusting pigs.”
Another wrote on X: “#JodiHildebrandt and #RubyFranke should NEVER EVER get out of jail!!!!! EVER #Evilinfluencer.”
On Feb. 20, 2024, both Hildebrandt and Franke were sentenced to four consecutive prison terms of one to 15 years for aggravated child abuse. Their maximum sentence is 30 years.
A Utah judge also ordered $100,000 from the sale of Hildebrandt’s home to go toward restitution for the children.
Hildebrandt, now 55, is incarcerated at the Utah State Correctional Facility in the Dell unit for the women’s general population - the same building where Franke is serving her sentence. Her first parole hearing is scheduled for December 2026.
Prosecutor Clarke told CBS News, “I hope that Jodi serves more time than [the minimum] and I hope that she isn’t out of prison until everybody is completely confident that she’s no longer a risk.”
Following her conviction, the Utah Division of Professional Licensing permanently revoked Hildebrandt’s counseling license on May 10, 2024.
Published 17:19 11 Jul 2022 GMT
Netflix is known for its shocking true crime documentaries.
However, for many viewers, the streaming giant's most recent production has taken things to a whole new level of horror.
Users have flocked to social media, claiming that the feature-length documentary Girl in the Picture is the "most horrific" thing they have ever seen.
Directed by Sky Borgman - who is known for her work on Abducted In Plain Sight - the true-crime flick centers on Sharon Marshall, a mysterious woman whose true identity was not revealed until after her death in 1990.
The movie is based on investigative journalist Matt Birbeck's two novels - A Beautiful Child and Finding Sharon - both of which focus on unraveling the true story of Sharon's tragic life, as she went from being a bright teenager to an abused mother.
Since it arrived on the streaming platform earlier this week, the documentary has shot to the top of Netflix's leaderboard, becoming one of their most-streamed movies of the week.
Meanwhile, many users have taken to Twitter to claim that the doc is one of the most terrifying and shocking things that they have ever watched.
"Girl in the picture on netflix is absolutely one of the most horrific, sickening, frightening things I’ve watched," one viewer tweeted, adding: "I’m at a loss for words."
This Netflix doc 'A Girl in the picture' might be the most f***ed thing I ever watched," a second person agreed.
Other users were astonished by how many twists and turns the documentary took as it revealed the truth about Sharon's life.
"I watched Girl in the Picture and I don’t think I’ve seen a true crime story with THAT many 'plot twists,'" one person wrote. Another added: "Girl in the picture' on Netflix is layers on layers of WTF! Had to keep rewinding to make sure I heard right!"
The documentary has proved so popular that Netflix is also releasing a five-part audio miniseries where viewers can learn more about the fascinating case.
Also titled 'Girl in the Picture', the miniseries "will feature complimentary information and interviews not seen in the film" according to the streaming giants. The first two episodes are available to listen to now on the 'You Can't Make This Up' feed.
Girl in the Picture is available to watch on Netflix now.
Published 16:38 05 Jul 2024 GMT
Netflix viewers have been left "sick to their stomachs" after watching the platform's latest chilling documentary.
The streaming giant recently added Tell Them You Love Me, which was directed by Nick August-Perna and executive-produced by Louis Theroux.
The shocking true story delves into the controversial relationship between Anna Stubblefield, a white, abled philosophy professor, and a nonverbal Black man named Derrick Johnson, who had cerebral palsy.
Back in 2009, Stubblefield, then aged 39, met 28-year-old Johnson after his family hoped her expertise could help their nearly mute son to communicate using a keypad.
What started as an educational endeavor took a sudden turn as Anna - who was married at the time - fell in love with her student, and claimed the two had a consensual sexual relationship.
Johnson's family was left horrified by the discovery and reportedly told her that he couldn't engage in physical or emotional intimacy. They added that the extent to which he used a keyboard to communicate with her wouldn't have been likely unless the professor had manipulated his hands.
The streaming service described the doc as a scandalous exploration of "the controversial relationship between a professor and a nonverbal man that leads to a trial over race, disability, and power".
Upon watching the new release, many horrified users took to X (formerly Twitter) to share their reactions.
One person penned: “I’ve watched A LOT of documentaries but this was truly some of the sickest s*** I’ve ever seen. That woman needs to be PUT AWAY FOREVER.”
A second user shared: “I randomly clicked on a show on Netflix last night called 'Tell Them You Love Me' & it ended up being one of the most disturbing & uncomfortable documentaries I’ve ever seen & I’ve seen a lot."
“It made me sick to my stomach,” a third wrote, per IGV, while a fourth added: "Tell Them You Love Me might be one of the most unsettling documentaries I’ve ever watched on Netflix."
In 2013, Stubblefield was charged with two counts of first-degree aggravated sexual assault and was sentenced to 12 years in prison, according to NJ.com.
As FC communication - which is an assisted typing technique - was not recognized by science, the court ruled that “no evidence related to FC would be considered,” as cited by Forbes.
Two years later, the jury found Stubblefield guilty on both counts, and she was sentenced to two, 12 years terms in prison. However, in 2017, her verdict was overturned by a New Jersey state appellate court and she was granted a new trial with a new judge.
The professor took a plea deal and pleaded guilty to the lesser third-degree aggravated criminal sexual contact. She was sentenced to time served and released from prison.
Tell Them You Love Me soared to the top of Netflix's chart after its release.
Discussing the subject of the documentary, August-Perna told Netflix: “It’s a complex film about some very nuanced ideas...For me, it’s about people who became enmeshed in a tragedy together.”
“I came to this story originally via a New York Times article, maybe 10 years ago, and I was riveted by it,” Theroux added. “It sat on the fault lines of so many big social questions — around race, sexuality, and, yes, disability.”
Despite her guilty plea, Stubblefield contended in the film that she was "not guilty of a crime".
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