Right so we know that Maya's 'body' was discovered but how do we know Maya is actually dead - she might of done an Ali on us...
First of all the scenes where Alison's and Maya's 'bodies' were found are oddly similar: like how the same song is played, Emily's reactions are the same, at least one person sees an ambulance head down the road leading to Maya's or Alison's house and then the body's are both in body bags - so how do we know Maya is actually dead? When Pam Fields spoke to Emily when they found Maya's' body she said 'They found a body and they think it's Maya's' THINKS? It was never confirmed.
Maya’s body being found: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UQ1ze8HLyNI
Alison’s body being found:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jgsGtuLW2aA
We also know that Nate/Lyndon James didn't actually confess to murdering Maya so there is no evidence that someone did actually kill her. We know that Maya wasn't afraid of Nate because when she talked about him she didn't seem afraid.
We know that Maya knew that her life was in danger. She spoke about her stalker on several occasions - we know that wasn't Nate so could that stalker be 'A'? When Mona sung her riddles; 'Miss Aria, your a killer, not Ezra's wife' and 'No one to save Ali from evil' the first one tells us 'Maya knew' the second 'Not safe' Maya probably knew about -A/ the A team and maybe this is why she is in danger? Maya could of easily read Alison's diary's and looked at her belongings also when Spencer sees a blonde figure in Maya's bedroom, could of she returned to collect her belongings? Maybe Maya saw her? We also know that Maya worked in Lucky Leon's Cupcakes so maybe she saw 'A' come in and order 'Hefty Hanna' her cupcakes?
I think Maya faked her death to protect Emily, like how Toby pretended not to be with Spencer to protect her.