Trial of woman accused of killing 5-year-old remains delayed after psychiatric evaluation

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – A potential trial start date for a 49-year-old woman that was accused of killing a five-year-old boy that was the subject of an Amber Alert has been delayed.

Pammy Maye, charged with aggravated murder, abuse of a corpse and three counts of tampering with evidence, was in Franklin County Common Pleas Court Thursday as an evaluation was made on her psychiatric state.

Her attorney previously said he plans to argue Maye was not guilty in the 2024 death of Darnell Taylor by reason of insanity due to her mental state at the time of the killing.

A competency report was taken in late July as experts from the Behavioral Health Center deemed her not competent to stand trial but said she could improve over time. The judge scheduled an additional psychiatric evaluation hearing on Oct. 14, delaying a possible trial and giving Maye an additional 60 days.

Pammy and Jabrell Maye were temporarily appointed as Taylor's legal custodians in 2023 after it was ruled Taylor had developmental disabilities and diminished physical and mental capacities.

Taylor’s disappearance in February of 2024 triggered a statewide Amber Alert, and Maye was soon after named as the suspected abductor. She was found in the Cleveland suburb of Brooklyn two days after Taylor’s disappearance, and Taylor’s body was found in southwest Columbus hours later.

Maye described the area where she left Taylor and after a Columbus police detective read Maye her Miranda rights, she waived her rights orally and then in writing. Then Maye described, in detail, how and why she killed Taylor.

In November, the family filed a wrongful death lawsuit alleging widespread abuse by Maye of Taylor over a span of nearly a year. A historical timeline of events was given that detailed alleged examples of abuse and negligence.