COLUMBUS, Ohio — An attorney representing the woman charged in the death of 5-year-old Darnell Taylor said she is competent to stand trial.
Pammy Maye appeared in Franklin County Court of Common Pleas on Monday for a scheduled hearing. Earlier this month, she pleaded not guilty to charges of aggravated murder, tampering with evidence and abuse of a corpse in connection with Darnell’s death.
Sam Shamansky, Maye’s attorney, said Maye is likely to change her plea to not guilty by insanity at a later date.
Shmanksy also asked the court for a private mental evaluation. But, the judge hasn’t yet made a decision on that evaluation.
10TV's Tara Jabour spoke to former Franklin County Prosecutor Ron O’Brien about why an attorney would ask for a private mental evaluation.
“This case involves the death of a 5-year-old by someone who was a custodian of them. So there are psychologists and psychiatrists that specialize in adults that cause harm and kill children,” said O’Brien.
On Feb. 14, an AMBER Alert was issued for Darnell after he was reported missing to police. Maye's husband had called 911 and said that his wife had killed the little boy and had fled the home. Later that morning, Maye's car was found abandoned in a Cleveland suburb.
Maye was found in the Cleveland area less than two days later and was taken into custody.
After interviewing Maye, detectives learned that Taylor's body might have been placed in a sewage drain on Marsdale Avenue in Franklin County. Authorities later found his body there.
When Maye and Shamansky appeared in court earlier this month, the attorney asked the magistrate to consider transferring Maye to a secure psychiatric facility. But the magistrate did not make a decision at the time.
The magistrate asked Shamansky if he wanted a health assessment on Maye, but Shamanksy said they would wait to find a psychologist to do the assessment.
Prosecutors for the case said this will be a challenging one as it will focus on Maye’s mental health.
Maye is scheduled to make another court appearance on April 25.
📱 Download the 10TV News app to receive breaking news alerts