COLUMBUS, Ohio — The Amber Alert for a missing boy believed to have been kidnapped or harmed by his foster mother is canceled after Columbus police said a body they believe is the child was found Friday morning.
Around 1 a.m. Friday morning, Columbus police said they pulled a body they believe is 5-year-old Darnell Taylor from a sewage drain in Franklin County.
An Amber Alert was issued Wednesday for Darnell Taylor, stating his foster mom Pammy Maye, 48, "advised that she harmed her foster child and fled by car" from Columbus, Ohio.
Maye is in police custody, Columbus police announced in a Friday morning press conference. She was arrested around 9 p.m. Thursday after someone called police in Brooklyn, Ohio to report a suspicious woman wandering around, Columbus police said.
May has already been charged with kidnapping and child endangerment, but she'll likely face more charges now.
The Amber Alert was originally issued after Columbus police said a 911 call was made by a man at around 3 a.m. He told dispatchers his wife woke him up overnight and said something to him that made him believe their foster child was hurt or in danger before leaving the house.
Police played the 911 call on Thursday. The man could be heard saying Maye told him the child was no longer alive. Officials said the husband told them he searched the home and did not find the child before calling them.
According to court records, Maye held her hand over her husband's mouth when he tried to make the 911 call, saying she “had a plan.” The alert was issued around 5 a.m. Wednesday morning; police said the alleged abduction happened at around 3:40 a.m.
The vehicle Maye fled in is a gray 2015 Jeep Cherokee; WCPO's sister station WEWS reports police found the Jeep in a Cleveland suburb. During a press conference, Columbus police said the vehicle was unoccupied.
Police are searching the area around where the vehicle was found, including with K-9 units.
Speaking at a news conference, Columbus Police Chief Elaine Bryant urged Maye to immediately reach out to authorities.
“Pammy, if you’re watching this, could you please reach out and contact us?” Bryant asked. “We need to know that Darnell is safe. We need to know that you’re safe.”
Maye has been the boy's foster mother since May 2023. The child's biological family was notified that he was missing, authorities said.
Anyone who sees Taylor or Maye should call 911 or 1.877.262.3764.
