A woman has been found guilty of capital murder after killing a pregnant woman and cutting the baby from her womb.
Taylor Rene Parker, 29, from Texas, US, was found guilty of murdering mum-of-one Reagan Micelle Simmons-Hancock, 21, at her home in New Boston in October 2020.
She smashed Reagan's head with a hammer multiple times and stabbed her over a 100 times.
Taylor then grimly cut the baby from her womb with a scalpel after abducting her as the baby later died.
Bowie County jury found Taylor guilty of capital murder after a jury deliberated for an hour.
Taylor's defence argued the baby girl was never alive and asked for the kidnapping charge to be dropped against her.
This would have resulted in the capital murder charge being lowered to murder.
Jeff Harrelson, Taylor's attorney, said in his closing argument to the jury: "That's why in opening statements we spent so much time on definitions. You can’t kidnap a person who has not been born alive."
Prosecutors, however, disagreed and said the baby girl had a heartbeat when she was born after several medical professionals all testified.
Taylor had previously faked her own pregnancy for over 10 months after researching ways online.
She also looked at several videos where they offered advice on delivering babies born at 35 weeks - which was how long Reagan was when the baby was cut from the womb and killed.
The 29-year-old made herself look pregnant in the weeks leading up to the murder.
She even faked ultrasounds, bragged on social media that she was pregnant and said she had thrown a gender reveal for her baby.
Taylor, who couldn't have children following her hysterectomy, lied to her boyfriend about being pregnant in order for him to stay with her.
Prosecutors said she would be induced on the day she killed Reagan.
Assistant District Attorney Lauren Richards told the jury: "In the past two weeks, the evidence has never been more clear.
"She’s a liar, a manipulator, and now she’s gonna be held accountable for it."
She also said the jury should take into account how Taylor smashed in her in the head at least five times with huge force.
The Attorney added: "The pain Reagan must have felt when Taylor started cutting her abdomen, hip to hip … indescribable.
"When Taylor had the baby and Reagan was still alive, that’s when Taylor started slashing and cutting. She can’t leave her alive. It was no quick death. She just kept cutting her.
"I guess Reagan would not die fast enough for Taylor to get out of there and get on with her plans."
Reagan was also mum to a three-year-old daughter.
The death penalty is being pursued by prosecutors for Taylor - with jurors set to decide in a trial beginning on October 12.
It will determine if Taylor is sentenced to the death penalty or life imprisonment without parole.
