⚖️ OH v Pammy Maye regarding death of Darnell Taylor
Franklin County Court of Common Pleas, Ohio · Trial reported scheduled to begin November 9, 2026
Status: Scheduled proceeding — not yet a completed trial event. Charges are allegations and the defendant is presumed innocent.
01 / Case overview and current legal status
Pammy Maye faces aggravated murder, abuse of a corpse and three counts of tampering with evidence in the death of five-year-old Darnell Taylor, who had been placed in her care. Maye rejected a reported plea proposal in July and elected a jury trial.
This case includes separate questions of competency to stand trial and criminal responsibility at the time of the alleged offense. A restored-competency finding permits the case to proceed; it does not resolve an insanity defense or determine guilt.
Next setting: Trial reported scheduled to begin November 9, 2026. A calendar or news report establishes a setting; jury selection, openings and testimony will be recorded only after they occur.
02 / Courthouse and attorneys
Franklin County Court of Common Pleas in Columbus. Judge Mark Serrott was identified in May 2026 scheduling coverage. Defense attorney Sam Shamansky stated that the defense planned a plea of not guilty by reason of insanity. The assigned trial prosecutors require docket confirmation.
03 / Victim background
Darnell Taylor was five years old and living in foster care with Pammy and Jabrell Maye under a temporary legal-custody arrangement. Reporting describes developmental disabilities and diminished physical and mental capacities. His identity and life should remain central and separate from the allegations against his caregiver.
04 / People and documented roles
- Pammy Maye: defendant and legal custodian; presumed innocent.
- Darnell Taylor: five-year-old victim.
- Jabrell Maye: co-custodian identified in reporting; not identified here as charged in Darnell’s death.
- Sam Shamansky: defense attorney identified in competency reporting.
- Judge Mark Serrott: judicial officer identified in 2026 scheduling coverage.
05 / Chronological event-by-event timeline
- February 14, 2024 — Authorities allege Darnell was killed; later charging records concern disposal of his body and related evidence.
- February 16, 2024 — Following an Amber Alert and two-day search, police recovered Darnell’s body from a Columbus sewage drain after Maye was located near Cleveland.
- July–August 2025 — Maye was reported incompetent to stand trial and received treatment.
- April 2026 — A Franklin County judge found Maye competent to proceed; defense counsel reported an intended insanity defense.
- July 31, 2026 — Maye rejected a plea offer and chose a jury trial.
- November 9, 2026 — Reported trial-start date; actual jury selection and openings remain to be verified.
06 / Investigation and evidence
Medical and recovery evidence
Reporting says Darnell’s body was found inside a bag in a sewage or storm drain. The coroner reportedly attributed his death to asphyxia by smothering with cervical neck compression. The complete autopsy and medical-examiner testimony have not yet been reviewed.
Statements and location evidence
Police reporting attributes statements to Maye and says she directed investigators to the recovery location after she was found near Cleveland. The admissibility, completeness and context of any recorded statement must be established in court.
07 / Prosecution and defense positions
Prosecution: The state alleges Maye intentionally killed Darnell, concealed his body and tampered with evidence.
Defense: Counsel has publicly identified an insanity defense. Competency to participate in proceedings is legally distinct from whether mental disease affected criminal responsibility at the time.
08 / Trial testimony and courtroom developments
No November testimony has been verified. The most recent reviewed reports establish the rejected plea offer, restored competency and November 9 setting.
Known and anticipated witnesses
Potential witness categories include investigators, medical personnel, the medical examiner, mental-health experts, custodians of records and people involved in Darnell’s placement. No final trial witness list has been verified.
Prospective witnesses are not italicized. Names will be italicized only after testimony is verified.
09 / Verdict, sentencing and appeals
No verdict, sentence or appeal outcome has been verified in this prosecution. The page will be updated in chronological order as proceedings occur.
10 / Unresolved questions
- What is the operative indictment and final jury-selection order?
- What mental-health evidence will each side present on criminal responsibility?
- What do the autopsy, recovery records and chain-of-custody documents establish?
- Which statements will the court admit, and with what limiting instructions?
11 / Court records and source documents
- 10TV — July 2026 plea decision and November 9 setting.
- WSYX/ABC 6 — July 31, 2026 trial and competency update.
- WOSU — April 13, 2026 competency ruling and defense position.
Source publication dates do not guarantee that a scheduled proceeding occurred. Operative dockets, signed orders, admitted exhibits and certified transcripts remain the controlling records.