Ohio agencies failed to protect 5-year-old boy found dead in trash bag, lawsuit says
In February, a statewide Amber Alert was issued for 5-year-old Darnell Taylor in Ohio. It ended when his body was found in a trash bag inside of a sewer. Now, a lawsuit says his death could have been prevented.
On March 24, 2022, Franklin County Children Services in Columbus took temporary custody of Taylor, according to a civil complaint filed Nov. 12.
Taylor’s paternal grandparents were granted temporary custody of him. However, in May 2023, the court determined the couple was incapable of caring for Taylor as he required special needs, according to the lawsuit.
That same month, Pammy Maye and her husband took temporary custody of Taylor after passing several requirements by children services, the lawsuit said.
On June 14, 2023, an employee with Buckeye Ranch, an organization under contract with Franklin County Children Services to provide child welfare services, met with Maye and her husband to discuss medical care for Taylor and scheduled visitation with his biological parents, according to the complaint.
However, one month later, Taylor’s parents told the employee that Maye and her husband were not answering phone calls or communicating with them or Taylor’s grandparents.
Between July 28 and Sept. 13, 2023, the employee made three unannounced visits to check on Taylor, but never saw him, according to the lawsuit. Maye, however, admitted to the employee during phone calls that she blocked Taylor’s family members from calling and failed to take Taylor to doctor’s appointments, which were a part of the requirements of the temporary custody.
Despite this, on Sept. 13, legal custody of Taylor was granted to Maye and her husband.
On Dec. 27, the Buckeye Ranch employee made another unannounced visit, at which time Maye’s husband told the employee that Taylor was not enrolled in school, had not been to doctor’s appointments and had not been meeting with his biological family, the lawsuit said.
Between Jan. 26 and Jan. 31, 2024, the employee made three more unannounced visits to Maye’s home. No one answered the door for any of the visits, the lawsuit said.
The defendants in the case “turned a blind eye to clear and present indications of ongoing abuse and neglect,” the lawsuit said.
Then, in February, authorities contacted Buckeye Ranch to inform them that Taylor had been killed, the lawsuit said.
“Franklin County Children Services will not be commenting on the specifics of the litigation involving Darnell Taylor’s estate nor providing any additional detail specific to the case, per state and federal confidentiality and privacy laws. We continue to work closely with law enforcement, prosecutors, and our contracted partners,” a statement sent to McClatchy News on Nov. 19 said.
“The death of a child who has a connection with our agency has a tremendous impact on everyone at FCCS. Darnell’s case was no different,” the statement went on to say. “Please note that anytime there is a child fatality within a family who’s in our agency’s care, our team takes immediate and thoughtful action to address any urgent safety needs for other children in the family as well as taking a more holistically look at the child welfare safety-net system.”
McClatchy News reached out to Buckeye Ranch and Maye’s attorney for comment but did not immediately hear back.
What happened to Taylor?
“Darnell was brutally killed while others responsible for his care either looked away or looked and did nothing,” the lawsuit said.
An Amber Alert was issued for Taylor on Feb. 14 after Maye’s husband reported to authorities that Maye took Taylor in the middle of the night and left the home, according to WJW.
Two days later, Maye was found without Taylor and arrested in Cleveland, WCMH reported. When police asked her if there was a chance her son was alive, she responded, “No, he’s not. And I did it,” the outlet reported.
Taylor’s body was found in a bag in a rainwater sewer drain in Columbus, the lawsuit said.
“Darnell suffered unconscionable abuse both physical and psychological,” the court document said.
Maye told investigators that she suffocated Taylor then put his body in a trash bag and dumped it in a sewage drain, WCMH reported. She said she killed him because he ate snacks in bed and that it was premeditated, the outlet reported.
Maye was charged with aggravated murder, abuse of a corpse and tampering with evidence, court records show. She pleaded not guilty and was given a $4 million bail as she awaits trial.
Franklin County Children Services told McClatchy News in the statement that when a child comes into its care it prioritizes trying to find a relative or family friend to care for the child.
“If someone identified by family expresses an interest in taking on the responsibilities of supporting and raising a child, a home study, background checks, and interview would be conducted. The final decision regarding custody rests with the courts,” Franklin County Children Services said.
This story was originally published November 19, 2024 at 9:26 AM with the headline "Ohio agencies failed to protect 5-year-old boy found dead in trash bag, lawsuit says."
