Mechanicville police have released new details from their investigation into a possible murder-suicide incident that has made 64-year-old Amy Steadman, the grandmother, the lead suspect.
On Tuesday evening, two adults and four children were discovered dead inside a home in Mechanicville, a small town north of Albany. The victims are identified as Steadman, her 44-year-old daughter Sarah Myers, and their four children: Harper Harmon (13), Hudson Harmon (11), Gavin Harmon (10), and Gracelynn Harmon (10).
Police were called for a welfare check after a neighbor reported the family had not been seen in days. The bodies had been dead for an undetermined period, making identification at the scene difficult.
Investigators found numerous prescriptions and over-the-counter medications at the home, leading them to suspect intentional poisoning as the cause of death. One child also suffered sharp-force injuries.
A handwritten note discovered at the residence indicated Steadman was responsible for the deaths, though police chief William Rabbitt emphasized that “the authorship of the note” and its contents remain under investigation until an official cause of death is certified.
Rabbitt confirmed there was no threat to the public.
Brady Harmon, the father of the children who lives in Utah, told reporters he had been subject to false rumors and accusations on social media. He stated they were in a custody dispute but denied allegations of child abuse, adding that Myers had assaulted him in 2019 by stabbing him with a medicine dropper after calling him “sperm donor” and “ATM.” Harmon also revealed Myers had not appeared for legal proceedings in over six years, only participating via video conference.
A GoFundMe page initiated by Steadman titled “Help get a domestic violence lawyer save my kids” was discovered on social media.
Rabbitt described the impact on Mechanicville’s close-knit community: “Many residents knew the family involved, have children and grandchildren of their own, or simply cannot comprehend the loss of six lives under such heartbreaking circumstances.”
The town has a population of about 5,200 residents.
