Pamela May, a 77-year-old widow from North Highlands, California, was murdered in her Field Street home in June 2022 by Darnell Erby, who exploited her vulnerability after offering help. The elderly hoarder, living alone after her husband entered memory care, accepted rides and assistance from the convicted burglar, leading to her brutal death during a burglary. Erby allegedly bound her with her own clothing, killed her, dismembered her body into 11 garbage bags, and planned to dispose of the remains before his accomplice alerted authorities.
Crime Details
Prosecutors state Erby entered through a fence gap on June 15, 2022, shortly after May’s normal morning activities like calling her husband ceased abruptly. He returned multiple times to mutilate the body using a knife, describing the process as unexpectedly difficult at a homeless camp. His female acquaintance in the Jeep tipped off police, preventing full disposal as he fled upon spotting them.
Legal Outcome
On June 17—likely 2025 based on context—Erby was convicted of first-degree murder during a burglary, plus mutilation and five burglary counts while armed. Despite his defense claiming he found her dead amid her heart disease and hoarding, prosecutors proved his guilt through evidence like phone records showing missed calls post-death.
Defense Argument
Erby’s attorney maintained it was a burglary where he discovered May already deceased, fabricating a prior relationship to explain fingerprints inside the cluttered home. The coroner couldn’t pinpoint cause of death due to dismemberment, but the jury rejected claims of natural death and a panicked cover-up plan to seize the property.
