SACRAMENTO, CA – The quiet North Highlands neighborhood was shattered in July 2022, when what began as a burglary ended in a crime so disturbing it sent shockwaves through the Sacramento area. Darnell Erby, 47, will now spend the remainder of his life in prison, after a judge handed down a sentence of life without parole for the gruesome murder and dismemberment of 77-year-old Pamela May.
The investigation unfolded over several harrowing days. Prosecutors revealed that Erby gained access to May’s home by sneaking through a hole in her backyard fence. Once inside, authorities say, he subdued the elderly woman by binding her with her own clothes—turning her sanctuary into a prison.
While May was held captive, Erby reportedly rifled through her belongings, looking for valuables. But his ambitions went far beyond theft. Investigators discovered that Erby had tried to seize ownership of May’s home by falsifying property documents, a move that hinted at premeditation and a chilling disregard for his victim.
After multiple burglaries and days of terror, authorities say Erby killed May. The horror did not end there. Law enforcement described how Erby returned to the house days later, dismembering May’s body and concealing the remains in garbage bags scattered throughout the property—actions meant to erase evidence of the crime entirely.
That attempt failed. Concerned neighbors contacted authorities, who arrived to find a scene so horrific it took forensic investigators time to confirm the victim’s identity. The elaborate cover-up and cold calculation of the acts left both officials and the neighborhood reeling.
The case grew even more controversial when it emerged that Erby had been serving a 12-year sentence for burglary, but was released early under a program for nonviolent offenders. Prosecutors from both Sacramento and Amador counties acknowledged they had fought to prevent Erby’s release, voicing fears that, despite his nonviolent designation, he posed a danger to the public.
Erby’s brief freedom outside prison walls led directly to May’s death, sparking renewed debate around California’s early parole laws. Community members and local leaders have voiced outrage, demanding answers as to why the warning signs went unheeded.
Across the North Highlands area, residents remember May as a quiet, independent woman. Her tragic end has galvanized calls for reform, and the neighborhood remains haunted by her loss.
In court, the evidence left no doubt. With Erby’s conviction on charges ranging from first-degree murder to the mutilation of May’s body and multiple burglaries, the sentence promised he would never again walk free.
While Erby’s life sentence marks the formal conclusion of the case, it has opened a larger conversation about justice, safety, and the unseen consequences of policy decisions. As Sacramento moves forward, the story of Pamela May endures—a stark reminder of the vulnerabilities that can exist even behind closed doors.