Mechanicville police suspect a 64-year-old woman, Amy Steadman, was involved in the deaths of her daughter and four grandchildren, whose bodies were discovered Tuesday in her home. Authorities believe Steadman may have poisoned the victims and herself.
Bodies Found After Neighbors' Concern
Police responded to a welfare check at Steadman's home after neighbors grew concerned about not seeing her. Inside, they found the bodies of Sarah Myers, 44, and her four children: Harper Harmon, 13; Hudson Harmon, 11; and twins Gavin and Gracelynn Harmon, both 10. Steadman was found alive but unresponsive and was transported to a hospital.
Evidence Points to Poisoning
Mechanicville Chief of Police William Rabbitt stated that sharp-force injuries to one child and the presence of prescription and over-the-counter medicine bottles suggested intentional poisoning. A handwritten note and other circumstantial evidence strongly indicated Steadman's involvement, according to Rabbitt. The investigation is ongoing.
Father's Fight for Custody
Brady Harmon, the children's father, lives in Utah and had been planning to pick up his children for the summer on July 1. He told local CBS affiliate WRGB, 'I spent thousands of dollars trying just to get access to them, trying to get any record for them at all, any parenting plan, just anything. I got nothing other than these four beautiful kids — they’re gone. I feel the two monsters that are responsible are the ones who took them from me.' Harmon and Myers had been married until she left for upstate New York in 2019, taking the children without notice. He filed for divorce in 2020 and had been fighting for visitation, last seeing his children in November 2019.
