OH DARNELL TAYLOR: Missing from Columbus, OH - 14 Feb 2024 - Age 5 *Found Deceased*

5-year-old abducted by foster mother, believed to be in danger: Police

A search is underway for 5-year-old Darnell Taylor who went missing overnight. An amber alert was issued after concerning statements were made by his foster mother.

abc7.com

5-year-old abducted by foster mother, believed to be in danger: Police​

A statewide Amber Alert has been issued in Ohio for 5-year-old Darnell Taylor, who police believe may be in danger after Taylor and his foster mother, Pammy Maye, 48, disappeared overnight.

Columbus police are asking anyone who may have seen Taylor and Maye or have any information that could help their investigation to come forward.

Maye's husband called 911 around 3 a.m. Wednesday and told police that she "woke him up and made statements that made him believe that their foster child, 5-year-old Darnell Taylor, had been hurt or was in danger," Columbus Police Deputy Chief Smith Weir said in a press conference Wednesday.

Weir said said they believe the child is in danger because of some of the circumstances surrounding the disappearance, but would not reveal what Maye told her husband.

The caller said that Maye then left the residence in a grey 2015 Jeep Cherokee. Police responded to the scene minutes after receiving the call and searched the residence but did not find Taylor, according to Weir.

Police later found the unoccupied car in Brooklyn, Ohio, about two hours away.

Maye's husband is cooperating with the investigation at this time and police are still conducting a search at the home.

The parents are believed to have been fostering the child since May 2023, Weir said.


Police said they have received the identity of the child's biological parents and are in the process of contacting them, according to Weir.

"We have no idea what we are dealing with right now, that's why we're asking for the public's assistance," Police Chief Elaine Bryant told reporters Wednesday. "Any information you can give us we'd greatly appreciate it."





MEDIA - DARNELL TAYLOR: Missing from Columbus, OH - 14 Feb 2024 - Age 5

 

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

‘Find justice for my grandson’: Grandmother of murdered 5-year-old wants answers after AMBER Alert

A grandmother says she feels the system failed her now murdered 5-year-old grandson.

www.cleveland19.com

‘Find justice for my grandson’: Grandmother of murdered 5-year-old wants answers after AMBER Alert​

A grandmother says she feels the system failed her now murdered 5-year-old grandson.

Shanda McGee tells 19 News that she repeatedly told the caseworker for Franklin County Children’s Services about concerns she had about 48-year-old Pammy Maye of Columbus, who along with her husband was the legal guardian of 5-year-old Darnell Taylor.


“That really broke my heart because it’s like first of all why did you do that?” McGee says. “Then you threw him out in the sewage like he was a piece of trash.”

McGee says Darnell’s paternal grandparents were friends with Maye and thought she would be a good caregiver for the child.

She says it’s unimaginable that someone who was supposed to care about the child did the unthinkable, “I feel like she feels if I can’t have him, nobody can have him.”

Both Darnell’s maternal and paternal grandparents had gone to court to get visitation for their grandson, saying Maye had blocked their calls and they weren’t able to get ahold of the couple to have regular visitation.

Another hearing on the matter was scheduled for March 11.

McGee says she feels like the caseworker should have done more to make sure the grandparents’ rights were being enforced.

“As a caseworker, you should have stepped up, even if you had to take law enforcement to the house, and say you guys are not abiding by the grandparents,” said McGee.

But what hurts most, his grandmother says, is that a loving child with an infectious smile will never get to grow up and enjoy a full life.

“Pammy, whatever the judge throws at her let him throw it at her. Right now I say God it’s in your hands because I know God is going to do right and find justice for my grandson,” said McGee.

Maye was taken to MetroHealth Medical Center after she was taken into custody.

 

[RoundPeg]

‘Find justice for my grandson’: Grandmother of murdered 5-year-old wants answers after AMBER Alert

A grandmother says she feels the system failed her now murdered 5-year-old grandson.

www.cleveland19.com

‘Find justice for my grandson’: Grandmother of murdered 5-year-old wants answers after AMBER Alert​

A grandmother says she feels the system failed her now murdered 5-year-old grandson.

Shanda McGee tells 19 News that she repeatedly told the caseworker for Franklin County Children’s Services about concerns she had about 48-year-old Pammy Maye of Columbus, who along with her husband was the legal guardian of 5-year-old Darnell Taylor.


“That really broke my heart because it’s like first of all why did you do that?” McGee says. “Then you threw him out in the sewage like he was a piece of trash.”

McGee says Darnell’s paternal grandparents were friends with Maye and thought she would be a good caregiver for the child.

She says it’s unimaginable that someone who was supposed to care about the child did the unthinkable, “I feel like she feels if I can’t have him, nobody can have him.”

Both Darnell’s maternal and paternal grandparents had gone to court to get visitation for their grandson, saying Maye had blocked their calls and they weren’t able to get ahold of the couple to have regular visitation.

Another hearing on the matter was scheduled for March 11.

McGee says she feels like the caseworker should have done more to make sure the grandparents’ rights were being enforced.

“As a caseworker, you should have stepped up, even if you had to take law enforcement to the house, and say you guys are not abiding by the grandparents,” said McGee.

But what hurts most, his grandmother says, is that a loving child with an infectious smile will never get to grow up and enjoy a full life.

“Pammy, whatever the judge throws at her let him throw it at her. Right now I say God it’s in your hands because I know God is going to do right and find justice for my grandson,” said McGee.

Maye was taken to MetroHealth Medical Center after she was taken into custody.

I wonder if she's still in the medical center.

 

[Summer_Breeze]

Woman accused of killing 5-year-old Darnell Taylor booked in jail on multiple charges

A Columbus woman accused of kidnapping and killing a little boy who was the subject of a statewide AMBER Alert is in jail, authorities have confirmed.

abc6onyourside.com

by WSYX Staff
Sat, February 17th 2024 at 6:02 PM
Updated Sun, February 18th 2024 at 11:29 PM

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WSYX) — UPDATE: As of 5:41 p.m. on Sunday, the Cuyahoga County press secretary reported to WSYX that Pammy Maye has officially been booked at the Cuyahoga County Corrections Center. Maye's charges include murder, child endangerment and kidnapping.

 

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

Woman accused of killing 5YO Darnell Taylor to be extradited back to Columbus

The legal guardian of the child found dead in a Columbus sewer drain will be extradited back to Columbus following her arrest in the Cleveland area.A spokesman

nbc24.com

Woman accused of killing 5YO Darnell Taylor to be extradited back to Columbus
The legal guardian of the child found dead in a Columbus sewer drain will be extradited back to Columbus following her arrest in the Cleveland area.

She was initially hospitalized but eventually taken to jail and now faces a murder charge.


No timetable has been determined for Maye's return to Columbus.

No motive has been given for why Maye allegedly killed Taylor. An autopsy is pending.

 

[Summer_Breeze]

Pammy Maye makes first court appearance in Ohio Amber Alert case involving death of 5-year-old boy Darnell Taylor: Watch live at 9 a.m.

Maye was arrested near Cleveland just hours before Columbus police say a body believed to be Darnell's was found in Franklin County.

www.wkyc.com

Author: Ryan Haidet
Published: 7:23 AM EST February 22, 2024
Updated: 7:23 AM EST February 22, 2024

CLEVELAND — Pammy Maye, the 48-year-old woman at the center of an Ohio Amber Alert case, is set to face a judge on several charges connected to the death of 5-year-old Darnell Taylor nearly a week after the missing boy's body was found in Franklin County.

Court records show she's set to appear in Franklin County Municipal Court in Columbus at 9 a.m. We plan to stream live coverage of Maye's court appearance inside this story. You can also watch more coverage on our YouTube channel (subscribe here).

3News learned over the weekend that Maye -- who is the child's custodial mother -- was booked into the Cuyahoga County Jail on charges of murder, child endangering and kidnapping. She was extradited back to Columbus on Wednesday.

 

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

Bond set at $4 million for woman accused of killing 5-year-old boy found in sewer drain

Bond was set at $4 million for Pammy Maye, the woman accused of killing her 5-year-old foster son.

cbs12.com

Bond set at $4 million for woman accused of killing 5-year-old foster son
Bond was set at $4 million for Pammy Maye, the woman accused of killing her 5-year-old foster son.

Maye was extradited to Columbus from Cleveland on Wednesday and made her first court appearance Thursday morning.

Judge Cynthia L. Ebner announced a $1 million bond for Maye on the kidnapping charge and $3 million on the murder charge.

Her next court appearance has been set for March 1.

Maye is suspected of suffocating Darnell Taylor in their home in south Columbus. Hours later, her husband called 911, and a short time after that, a statewide AMBER Alert was issued.

 

[GrandmaBear]

Foster mother. Probably fostered for a check.

They claim they were both "legal guardians" but not like that doesn't and can't also get a check and benefits. And another unrelated incident before this that had cops called.

Semantics. "For kinship they do go through a background check and home study" but they don't have to jump through all the hoops fostering does. Say what? Since when do we see these days that even fostering or adopting have any hoops or serious background checks. Shall we name the cases some of us have followed?

Damned right it is the adults in his life failed him.

The kinship claim and "cover" for the agency I suspect means they are family or related. No idea but that's what "kin" means.

Sounds a bit like when Harmony was placed with her dad. Without appropriate checks. Oh well, after all he is "kin".

Whaktever the unrelated call was earlier on, there was some issue or problem.

And with the little here, I wouldn't assume the partner or spouse or whatever of these legal guardians was not part of this and this was/is their attempted cover.

Nothing here adds up to a conclusion other than I think there is some cover and "sn*w" going on.

Children are apparently disposable. And while agencies may be stressed and interfere when they shouldn't and then don't when they should, there are no fricking parameters or background checks in many cases, they just hand them off and dispose of them to whoever and never check back or on them.

HOW can you be that way? How can you be so shallow and callous in a job even IF the red tape and b.s. prevents you from doing our job. I would be stuck on checking constantly the first one I ever placed somewhere to ensure safety. AND I'd have done a background check and more. It is why I would never make it in such a job. Judges, workers etc., these are CHILDREN. Yell and make a difference or just try to throw as many and place as many as you can and care less.

And NO, that comes from nothing I have ever dealt with.

Harmony is gone but thank God that evil POS sperm donor that hated his own child was found guilty on all five counts DESPITE the jury could never see him in person. Another placement with no check and handed off to another state. Did her mother screw up? YES. Did her stepmother screw up? YES. Did agencies and judges screw up? YES.

Disposable children. It is so disgusting on all levels of how it ends up that way and then a real lack of justice in many cases or people who never shoudl have had them in the first place.

 

[Mel70]

They claim they were both "legal guardians" but not like that doesn't and can't also get a check and benefits. And another unrelated incident before this that had cops called.

Semantics. "For kinship they do go through a background check and home study" but they don't have to jump through all the hoops fostering does. Say what? Since when do we see these days that even fostering or adopting have any hoops or serious background checks. Shall we name the cases some of us have followed?

Damned right it is the adults in his life failed him.

The kinship claim and "cover" for the agency I suspect means they are family or related. No idea but that's what "kin" means.

Sounds a bit like when Harmony was placed with her dad. Without appropriate checks. Oh well, after all he is "kin".

Whaktever the unrelated call was earlier on, there was some issue or problem.

And with the little here, I wouldn't assume the partner or spouse or whatever of these legal guardians was not part of this and this was/is their attempted cover.

Nothing here adds up to a conclusion other than I think there is some cover and "sn*w" going on.

Children are apparently disposable. And while agencies may be stressed and interfere when they shouldn't and then don't when they should, there are no fricking parameters or background checks in many cases, they just hand them off and dispose of them to whoever and never check back or on them.

HOW can you be that way? How can you be so shallow and callous in a job even IF the red tape and b.s. prevents you from doing our job. I would be stuck on checking constantly the first one I ever placed somewhere to ensure safety. AND I'd have done a background check and more. It is why I would never make it in such a job. Judges, workers etc., these are CHILDREN. Yell and make a difference or just try to throw as many and place as many as you can and care less.

And NO, that comes from nothing I have ever dealt with.

Harmony is gone but thank God that evil POS sperm donor that hated his own child was found guilty on all five counts DESPITE the jury could never see him in person. Another placement with no check and handed off to another state. Did her mother screw up? YES. Did her stepmother screw up? YES. Did agencies and judges screw up? YES.

Disposable children. It is so disgusting on all levels of how it ends up that way and then a real lack of justice in many cases or people who never shoudl have had them in the first place.

I guarantee that if they were taking care of a child. A check was being paid to them. Pay everything for them. Don't help others that need it. And really only helping the lazy, Greedy adults. The CHILD WAS FAILED!!!! AND IT CAN'T BE UNDONE!!!

 

[Mel70]

Bond set at $4 million for woman accused of killing 5-year-old boy found in sewer drain

Bond was set at $4 million for Pammy Maye, the woman accused of killing her 5-year-old foster son.

cbs12.com

Bond set at $4 million for woman accused of killing 5-year-old foster son
Bond was set at $4 million for Pammy Maye, the woman accused of killing her 5-year-old foster son.

Maye was extradited to Columbus from Cleveland on Wednesday and made her first court appearance Thursday morning.

Judge Cynthia L. Ebner announced a $1 million bond for Maye on the kidnapping charge and $3 million on the murder charge.

Her next court appearance has been set for March 1.

Maye is suspected of suffocating Darnell Taylor in their home in south Columbus. Hours later, her husband called 911, and a short time after that, a statewide AMBER Alert was issued.

I bet her defense will be mental illness.

 

[Mel70]

They claim they were both "legal guardians" but not like that doesn't and can't also get a check and benefits. And another unrelated incident before this that had cops called.

Semantics. "For kinship they do go through a background check and home study" but they don't have to jump through all the hoops fostering does. Say what? Since when do we see these days that even fostering or adopting have any hoops or serious background checks. Shall we name the cases some of us have followed?

Damned right it is the adults in his life failed him.

The kinship claim and "cover" for the agency I suspect means they are family or related. No idea but that's what "kin" means.

Sounds a bit like when Harmony was placed with her dad. Without appropriate checks. Oh well, after all he is "kin".

Whaktever the unrelated call was earlier on, there was some issue or problem.

And with the little here, I wouldn't assume the partner or spouse or whatever of these legal guardians was not part of this and this was/is their attempted cover.

Nothing here adds up to a conclusion other than I think there is some cover and "sn*w" going on.

Children are apparently disposable. And while agencies may be stressed and interfere when they shouldn't and then don't when they should, there are no fricking parameters or background checks in many cases, they just hand them off and dispose of them to whoever and never check back or on them.

HOW can you be that way? How can you be so shallow and callous in a job even IF the red tape and b.s. prevents you from doing our job. I would be stuck on checking constantly the first one I ever placed somewhere to ensure safety. AND I'd have done a background check and more. It is why I would never make it in such a job. Judges, workers etc., these are CHILDREN. Yell and make a difference or just try to throw as many and place as many as you can and care less.

And NO, that comes from nothing I have ever dealt with.

Harmony is gone but thank God that evil POS sperm donor that hated his own child was found guilty on all five counts DESPITE the jury could never see him in person. Another placement with no check and handed off to another state. Did her mother screw up? YES. Did her stepmother screw up? YES. Did agencies and judges screw up? YES.

Disposable children. It is so disgusting on all levels of how it ends up that way and then a real lack of justice in many cases or people who never shoudl have had them in the first place.

I do wish she could truly rest in peace on earth. An ending. A place for her. A memorial garden.

 

[RoundPeg]

Catching up. This is the distance from the Maye address to where Darnell's body was found. From what I'm gathering, Darnell had been murdered earlier in the day and dumped at some point. Pammy's husband searched the house prior to calling 911 and Darnell was gone.

 

[RoundPeg]

Distance from her home to where Pammy Maye was apprehended (in her nightgown). I'm thinking she had a mental health crisis based on reports of pre existing conditions. From what I'm reading she's going to have a tough time proving NGRI. 1. She hid Darnell’s body, and 2. she ran. To me, that shows she knew she did something wrong.

 

[GrandmaBear]

I guarantee that if they were taking care of a child. A check was being paid to them. Pay everything for them. Don't help others that need it. And really only helping the lazy, Greedy adults. The CHILD WAS FAILED!!!! AND IT CAN'T BE UNDONE!!!

Oh I agree. You can bet on it. $$$$$. That alone does not put children in danger and attract people that NEED money who can't make their own or hold a job? Of COURSE it does. It wouldn't of course if they had STRICT guidelines but they DO NOT.

 

[GrandmaBear]

I bet her defense will be mental illness.

Well I like the $4 million part. In WI it would probably be $1,000 and yes I MEAN that or a signature bond depending on which county and if a public nationally known crime or not of which we see few. If we get one the the bond is more major. Very few examples but do have a couple could offer. Patterson for one.

Yeah I am sure they will try mental illness or any defense or weird ones nowadays they can find/new ones they are trying to make fly.

 

[GrandmaBear]

I do wish she could truly rest in peace on earth. An ending. A place for her. A memorial garden.

I agree with that. He is evil personified. And they should have a resting place for her with her in it. To go to, to honor, to grieve, to lay flowers, to talk to. No doubt. Hugs. I know what you mean.

 

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

Prosecutors say woman accused of suffocating 5-year-old may have mental health issues, bond set

Pammy Maye, 48, appeared for her first hearing in Franklin County Municipal Court Thursday. Her bond was set at $4 million.

www.dispatch.com

Prosecutors say woman accused of suffocating 5-year-old may have mental health issues, bond set​

McCoy said that Maye was previously diagnosed with bipolar disorder and schizophrenia and had exhibited possessive and controlling behavior in the past. She and her husband served as legal guardians for the child.

While it's fair to assess and consider a caregiver's mental health, a diagnosis shouldn't make someone ineligible for kinship or foster care, said Richard Wexler, executive director of the National Coalition for Child Protection Reform, a Virginia-based nonprofit that advocates for policy changes concerning child abuse, foster care and family preservation.

"It is reasonable to evaluate, but it is unreasonable to make that an automatic cause to rule anyone out," he said. "With the right treatment ... a relative or stranger can be a very good caregiver."



Those investigating whether the system failed Darnell need to start at the beginning, Wexler said.

"The first thing to look at was whether there was any need to take this child from his own parents in the first place," Wexler said.

Darnell's paternal grandparents told WBNS-10TV they had been caring for the 5-year-old but became unable to continue to do so. Darnell's grandparents have declined on multiple occasions to speak with The Dispatch.

The grandparents told 10TV they had known Maye for many years and when Maye and her husband were willing to take custody of Darnell in May 2023, they agreed.

At some point between May 2023 and Feb. 14, the Mayes became the legal custodians of Darnell. Guardianship, Wexler said, is considered a few steps shy of adoption and is sometimes utilized when a birth parent doesn't want to give up their legal right to a child.

However, it's unclear to whom, Franklin County Children Services made a referral to kinship care in Darnell's case before his death.

Schizophrenic Foster Mom Suffocated 5-year-old Boy Found in Sewage Drain

An Ohio woman who allegedly killed a 5-year-old boy in her care last week had her first court appearance on Thursday. Pammy Maye, 48, allegedly suffocated Darnell Taylor six hours before an AMBER Alert was issued on February 14. Maye, who was apprehended in Brooklyn, Ohio, on February 15...

www.crimeonline.com

Schizophrenic Foster Mom Suffocated 5-year-old Boy Found in Sewage Drain​

Maye and her husband had been Taylor’s foster parents since May 2023. Prosecutor Tyler McCoy said on Thursday that Maye was previously diagnosed with bipolar disorder and schizophrenia, and she showed signs of possessive and controlling behavior, the Columbus Dispatch reported.
https://www.crimeonline.com/author/jgray/

 

[RoundPeg]

Prosecutors say woman accused of suffocating 5-year-old may have mental health issues, bond set

Pammy Maye, 48, appeared for her first hearing in Franklin County Municipal Court Thursday. Her bond was set at $4 million.

www.dispatch.com

Prosecutors say woman accused of suffocating 5-year-old may have mental health issues, bond set​

McCoy said that Maye was previously diagnosed with bipolar disorder and schizophrenia and had exhibited possessive and controlling behavior in the past. She and her husband served as legal guardians for the child.

While it's fair to assess and consider a caregiver's mental health, a diagnosis shouldn't make someone ineligible for kinship or foster care, said Richard Wexler, executive director of the National Coalition for Child Protection Reform, a Virginia-based nonprofit that advocates for policy changes concerning child abuse, foster care and family preservation.

"It is reasonable to evaluate, but it is unreasonable to make that an automatic cause to rule anyone out," he said. "With the right treatment ... a relative or stranger can be a very good caregiver."



Those investigating whether the system failed Darnell need to start at the beginning, Wexler said.

"The first thing to look at was whether there was any need to take this child from his own parents in the first place," Wexler said.

Darnell's paternal grandparents told WBNS-10TV they had been caring for the 5-year-old but became unable to continue to do so. Darnell's grandparents have declined on multiple occasions to speak with The Dispatch.

The grandparents told 10TV they had known Maye for many years and when Maye and her husband were willing to take custody of Darnell in May 2023, they agreed.

At some point between May 2023 and Feb. 14, the Mayes became the legal custodians of Darnell. Guardianship, Wexler said, is considered a few steps shy of adoption and is sometimes utilized when a birth parent doesn't want to give up their legal right to a child.

However, it's unclear to whom, Franklin County Children Services made a referral to kinship care in Darnell's case before his death.

Schizophrenic Foster Mom Suffocated 5-year-old Boy Found in Sewage Drain

An Ohio woman who allegedly killed a 5-year-old boy in her care last week had her first court appearance on Thursday. Pammy Maye, 48, allegedly suffocated Darnell Taylor six hours before an AMBER Alert was issued on February 14. Maye, who was apprehended in Brooklyn, Ohio, on February 15...

www.crimeonline.com

Schizophrenic Foster Mom Suffocated 5-year-old Boy Found in Sewage Drain​

Maye and her husband had been Taylor’s foster parents since May 2023. Prosecutor Tyler McCoy said on Thursday that Maye was previously diagnosed with bipolar disorder and schizophrenia, and she showed signs of possessive and controlling behavior, the Columbus Dispatch reported.
Posts by: Jacquelyn Gray

Her behavior doesn't exactly scream "right treatment", in my opinion. I'm wondering if her husband noticed any indications something was amiss.

 

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

Her behavior doesn't exactly scream "right treatment", in my opinion. I'm wondering if her husband noticed any indications something was amiss.

I'm wondering even more if the "unrelated" police call to the house several months prior was actually related to her mental illness.

 

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

Grand jury indicts Columbus woman on murder, abuse of corpse charges in death of Darnell Taylor

Pammy Maye was indicted on charges of aggravated murder, abuse of a corpse and tampering with evidence related to the death of Darnell Taylor.

www.10tv.com

Grand jury indicts Columbus woman on murder, abuse of corpse charges in death of Darnell Taylor​

A Franklin County grand jury indicted a woman accused of killing a 5-year-old boy and putting his body in a sewage drain earlier this month.

Pammy Maye, 48, was indicted on one count of aggravated murder, three counts of tampering with evidence and one count of abuse of a corpse.

 

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

Police found 2-year-old Darnell Taylor outside in a stroller in 2022

A Columbus police report shows officers took a then-2-year-old Darnell Taylor into emergency custody in March 2022 after a neighbor called 911.

www.dispatch.com

Police found 2-year-old Darnell Taylor outside in a stroller in 2022​

New details obtained Tuesday by The Columbus Dispatch provide insight into why Franklin County Children Services got involved with a 5-year-old boy who police said later was suffocated by his legal custodian.

A Columbus police report shows officers took a then-2-year-old Darnell Taylor into emergency custody in March 2022 after a neighbor called 911 after noticing the boy was left outside unattended in a stroller.


The neighbor called 911 around 9:30 p.m. March 25, 2022, after seeing a toddler strapped in a stroller outside a home on the 100 block of Buffalo Court, according to a report from Columbus police.

Historical weather data shows temperatures on that day were in the mid to high 40s during the evening.

The report redacted the relationship between a person who came outside when police got to the home, but, the report lists a person with the same name and age as Darnell's biological mother.

The mother told police she left the 2-year-old outside "as a form of punishment for calling her a bad name" and said he had only been outside about five minutes, the report says. The neighbor told police the child had been outside for more than an hour unattended, police said.

Police took Darnell into emergency custody after his mother made concerning comments to the officers, police said. The mother underwent an evaluation at an area hospital.

Darnell was taken to Franklin County Children Services, according to the report.

While information about what happened to Darnell after initially being taken to Children Services has not been released, at some point between March 2022 and May 2023, Darnell's paternal grandparents, Tawanda and Anthony Barnes, began taking care of him, according to what they told 10TV.

In the interview with 10TV, Darnell's paternal grandparents said they've known Maye and her husband for several years and the Mayes took custody of Darnell in May 2023. At some point after taking custody, the Mayes gained legal custodianship.

Darnell's biological family had not seen the toddler since July, shortly after the Mayes gained legal custody. The Barnes family told 10TV Maye used to attend birthdays, cookouts and holidays but stopped answering their phone calls.