Woman charged with murdering five-year-old extradited to Columbus
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – A woman who was arrested and jailed in northeast Ohio days after a five-year-old was found dead in Columbus was extradited to Franklin County Wednesday to face charges.
Pammy Maye, 48, is formally charged with murder, kidnapping, and endangering children in Franklin County, records show. Online records show that Maye arrived in Franklin County Jail late Wednesday afternoon.
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She is accused of killing Darnell Taylor, 5, a boy she and her husband were the legal guardians of since May 2023.
According to the affidavit of probable cause, Maye allegedly suffocated Taylor on Feb. 13 at approximately 11 a.m. in their home in the 900 block of Reeb Avenue. Maye then allegedly admitted to killing Taylor and disposed of the body in a sewer on the 1600 block of Marsdale Avenue, according to court records.
Maye was taken to Cuyahoga County Jail Sunday afternoon on a fugitive warrant after an Amber Alert was issued on Feb. 14 for Taylor, who was thought to have been abducted by Maye.
Brooklyn, Ohio police located Maye southwest of Cleveland on Feb. 15, and she provided the location of Taylor’s body. On Feb. 16 police located Taylor’s body shortly after 1 a.m.
The Amber Alert was issued Feb. 14 at 5:10 a.m., with initial reports believing Maye had taken Taylor from their south Columbus home, about five miles from where Taylor’s body was found. Maye’s husband called 911 at 3 a.m.
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During the 911 call, Maye’s husband told operators that his wife said she had killed Taylor. Before the call ended, Maye fled the house. Her vehicle was recovered hours later in Brooklyn with no sign of her or Taylor.
Taylor was referred to multiple service agencies, including behavioral health at Nationwide Children’s Hospital and case management, according to children’s services, before Maye and her husband became legal guardians of him in May 2023.
Maye is scheduled to be in Franklin County court Thursday.
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