Wade Griffin Now: Real Story Behind Taylor Parker's Boyfriend, 'Maternal Instinct'
Wade Griffin was the boyfriend of death row inmate Taylor Parker. Court records accuse Parker of fabricating a pregnancy and then murdering a young pregnant woman to steal her baby, who also died in the horrific attack.
Caught in the web of Parker's lies was Griffin, who testified that he believed his girlfriend's fake pregnancy, even as she told him lie-after-lie, including about their finances, which sent him hurtling toward ruin.
The story is featured in a new Netflix documentary called Maternal Instinct. That has a lot of Netflix fans wondering, where is Wade Griffin today? What is the real story? What happened to Parker's boyfriend? (Parker also has two kids with a former boyfriend and ex-husband.)
Wade Griffin Testified During Taylor Parker's Trial That Their Relationship Was an 'Emotional Rollercoaster'
Griffin testified during Parker's trial. He described their relationship as an "emotional rollercoaster," according to KTAL-TV. Griffin "worked long hours at a roofing company in Daingerfield (Texas) and did side jobs like welding, hog trapping, and managing livestock," the television station reported.
Then 27, he was working as a "roofing company supervisor," Griffin testified during the trial. He "said he and Taylor met at a rodeo in July 2019 and started talking through social media. Before long, they were having dinners together and meeting each other's families," KTAL-TV reported.
Where Is Wade Griffin Now? What We Know About Taylor Parker's Ex-Boyfriend Featured in 'Maternal Instinct' https://t.co/6d40pPPfFb
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Griffin testified that Taylor made meals for him, "helped care for the livestock, kept up with the finances, and manage the household," KTAL-TV added, quoting him as saying, "She was cooking. She was a good cook, pretty much the best I ever had. So I was excited."
He also testified that Parker falsely convinced him that she was going to come into family money, even faking texts from her dad, so he went into debt buying a truck and other items.
The Relationship Between Wade Griffin & Taylor Parker Started to Unravel Before the Murder
Their relationship started to unravel. "I want you to take into consideration on my part you haven't touched me, kissed me or anything in over a month. It's lonely and that's something I need in our relationship. You used to do it so I'd like it back," she texted him, but he responded, "I'll pass," KTAL-TV reported.
"Guess I'm just not a very affectionate, hands-on kinda guy, I guess you would say," Griffin testified, according to the television station. "Plus, all the financial issues, all these fake people texting me, promising me, promising me that, and just constantly letting me down. I just wasn't attracted. To the point where I was thinking, ‘This has got to be a trap.'"
At some point, Parker lied to Griffin that she was pregnant with his twins. In reality, court documents show, she was faking the pregnancy because she had a previous hysterectomy he didn't know about. She then murdered Reagan Simmons-Hancock to steal her baby, which did not survive. Griffin was not implicated in the attack.
"I did not have a clue. It was like her real stomach," Griffin testified.
Where Is Wade Griffin Now?
His life took a turn for the worse after Parker's 2022 trial.
According to Biography.com, during his 2022 court testimony, Griffin "confirmed he lost his job following his involvement with Parker."
"Pretty much ruined my whole reputation. Slandered my name, my brothers, my mom," he testified. "Worst thing I've ever had to live through, for sure."
He was named in a civil suit filed by the victim's husband, Homer Hancock, according to KTAL-TV. It accused him of providing his vehicle to Parker.
This story was originally published by Men's Journal on Jun 14, 2026, where it first appeared in the Entertainment section. Add Men's Journal as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
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This story was originally published June 14, 2026 at 12:56 PM.