Darnell Taylor, a 5-year-old boy in Columbus, Ohio, was killed on February 16, 2024, by his legal custodian and adoptive mother, 48-year-old Pammy Maye. The medical examiner determined the cause of death was asphyxia by smothering with cervical neck compression through obstruction of the external airways. Maye's husband called 911 after she woke him and told him the child was "no longer with them" and "he's not alive anymore." Maye covered her husband's mouth, told him she had a "plan," and fled with the child's body, which she placed in a sewage drain. A statewide AMBER Alert was issued, and Maye was located and arrested after being spotted walking near a business. Maye had been diagnosed with depression and bipolar disorder and was taking medication. A subsequent wrongful death lawsuit alleged that Franklin County Children Services and the Buckeye Ranch had failed to remove Taylor from the Mayes' custody despite multiple warning signs, including the child not attending school or doctor appointments and being isolated from biological family members for months prior to his death. Maye was charged with aggravated murder, tampering with evidence, and abuse of a corpse.
Contexts/Conditions
Is there any mention of child drug ingestion or overdose?
Is there any mention of a drowning incident (either intentional or accidental)?
Is there any mention of a firearm incident?
Is there any mention of inappropriate supervision (e.g., child wandered off and drowned)?
Is there any mention of inflicted injury? (e.g. slapped, punched, kicked, choked)
The medical examiner report (OH_24_1654.pdf) states the cause of death was "Asphyxia by smothering with cervical neck compression" and describes "obstruction of external airways (nose and mouth)." The lawsuit article further states that Maye "had strangled and killed him." Both smothering and strangulation constitute inflicted injuries.
Is there any mention of malnutrition, starvation, or dehydration?
Is there any mention of medical neglect?
The lawsuit article states that among the documented issues, "Taylor was not attending school, nor was he going to doctor appointments or visiting with biological family members." The failure to take the child to doctor appointments implies medical neglect.
Is there any mention of a motor vehicle crash or incident?
Is there any mention of a murder-suicide incident?
Is there any mention of outdoor elements (including hot car deaths)?
Is there any mention of prenatal substance exposure (including fetal alcohol syndrome or neonatal abstinence syndrome)?
Is there any mention of sexual abuse?
Is there any specific mention of shaken baby or abusive head trauma?
Is there any mention of prolonged abuse or torture (including restraints, captivity)?
Is there any mention of an unsafe sleeping environment?
Individuals Involved
Was an adoptive parent or guardian involved in the death?
The WLBT news article describes Pammy Maye as Taylor's "adoptive mother" and "legal guardian." The lawsuit article describes her as his "legal custodian." She killed the child. This clearly indicates an adoptive parent or guardian was involved in the death.
Was a biological father involved in the death?
Was a biological mother involved in the death?
Was a day care worker, babysitter, or nanny involved in the death?
Was a female paramour or friend involved in the death (e.g., girlfriend, stepmother)?
Was a foster parent involved in the death?
Was a male paramour or friend involved in the death (e.g., boyfriend, stepfather)?
Was another adult relative involved in the death? (e.g., grandfather, aunt)
Was a sibling involved in the death?
Child Characteristics
Was the child adopted?
The WLBT news article describes Pammy Maye as "his adoptive mother," suggesting the child was adopted. However, the lawsuit article describes her as his "legal custodian," which is a different legal status in Ohio. The discrepancy makes it unclear whether the adoption was finalized or if Maye held legal custody through the child welfare system.
Was the child homeschooled (including "cyberschooling") or taken out of school?
The lawsuit article states that among the documented issues, "Taylor was not attending school." This was listed among the concerns raised by the lawsuit, implying the child was expected to be in school but was not attending. While there is no explicit statement that the child was withdrawn or homeschooled, the context — a 5-year-old not attending school, combined with isolation from family, caseworkers, and doctors — implies the child was kept out of school.
Was the child in foster care at the time of the incident?
Was the child living with relatives at the time of the incident (but not parents)?
Is there any mention of a neurological developmental child disability? (e.g., autism, intellectual disability, nonverbal)
Is there any mention of a physical child disability? (e.g., feeding tube)
Is there any mention of prematurity or low birthweight?
Is there a history of child protection reports prior to death (for this child or siblings)?
The lawsuit article describes extensive FCCS involvement, including caseworker visits to the home, notes about Maye blocking contact with biological family and caseworkers, and assessments of the home. The text states: "Caseworkers had shown up at the Mayes' home multiple times but were unable to speak with them" and describes "numerous issues" documented "throughout the rest of 2023 and into early 2024." The active involvement of FCCS caseworkers strongly implies a history of child protection reports and an open case prior to the death.
Does the child have a history of foster care (but not in care at time of incident)?
The lawsuit article describes the involvement of Franklin County Children Services and the Buckeye Ranch, active caseworker visits, biological parents being separate from the custodial parents, and FCCS having authority over the child's placement. The lawsuit states that "the Buckeye Ranch and FCCS kept Taylor in the Mayes' custody despite knowing they were deemed 'unfit to care for children.'" This strongly implies the child had a history of being in the child welfare/foster care system before placement with the Mayes as legal custodians. The child was in legal custody (not technically foster care) at the time of death.
Is there a history of a sibling death (separate incident from this death)?
Parent/Caregiver Factors
Was an adult charged or arrested for the child's death?
The WLBT news article states that police "located and arrested the suspect, 48-year-old Pammy Maye." The lawsuit article further states: "Pammy Maye faces charges of aggravated murder, tampering with evidence, and abuse of a corpse in the case."
Is domestic violence by the parent/caregiver referenced?
The WLBT news article states: "Documents obtained by WOIO say Maye covered her husband's mouth and told him that she had a 'plan' before fleeing." Physically covering a domestic partner's mouth to silence them is an act of physical control and aggression against a domestic partner, constituting domestic violence, even though it occurred during the broader incident surrounding the child's death.
Is there any mention that the death occurred in a temporary shelter or while homeless?
Is an intellectual disability of the parent/caregiver referenced?
Is the mental health of the parent/caregiver referenced?
The WLBT news article states: "The husband also told dispatchers that Maye was diagnosed with depression and bipolar disorder, but was taking medication for it." This explicitly references the caregiver's mental health diagnoses.
Is a history of arrests or criminal charges for the parent/caregiver referenced?
Is substance use by the parent/caregiver referenced?
Notable Details
The lawsuit article describes significant systemic failures by Franklin County Children Services and the Buckeye Ranch. The lawsuit alleges these agencies "kept Taylor in the Mayes' custody despite knowing they were deemed 'unfit to care for children' and failed to conduct proper safety and risk assessments." The text details that Maye blocked the numbers of the caseworker and Taylor's biological family, Taylor was not attending school or doctor appointments, caseworkers were unable to speak with the Mayes despite multiple home visits, and Taylor's biological family had not seen him since September 2023 — approximately five months before his death. Despite these warning signs, the agencies did not intervene to remove the child. Additionally, after killing the child, Maye placed his body in a sewage/storm drain and fled, triggering a statewide AMBER Alert, and her husband's 911 call included him relaying that Maye told him the child was "no longer with them" and that "he's not alive anymore."
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