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Woman accused of killing Columbus boy indicted on multiple charges, including aggravated murder

WOSU 89.7 NPR News | By George Shillcock

Published February 27, 2024 at 4:24 PM EST

Darnell Taylor, 5, of Columbus left, was reported missing early Wednesday. His foster mother, Pammy Maye, 48, right, said he was no longer alive before she fled a home on Reeb Avenue on the city's east side. Police are investigating.

Pammy Maye was indicted by a Franklin County Grand Jury on charges she murdered 5-year-old Darnell Taylor earlier this month.

The grand Jury indicted Maye, 48, Tuesday on charges of aggravated murder, three counts of tampering with evidence and one count of abuse of a corpse. All counts are felonies and carry a potential life sentence in prison if Maye is convicted.

Mugshot of Pammy Maye — Pammy Maye is accused of killing 5-year-old Darnell Taylor in February 2024.

Maye allegedly kidnapped and murdered Taylor on Feb. 14 and discarded his body in a sewer drain before fleeing to the Cleveland area, according to court documents. Police found and arrested Maye in Brooklyn, Ohio and later recovered Taylor's body.

Maye was Taylor's legal guardian. Taylor's initial disappearance prompted a statewide AMBER Alert.

Maye's arraignment is scheduled for Friday in Franklin County Court of Common Pleas.

She was previously charged with murder, kidnapping and endangering a child in Franklin County Municipal Court.