A shocking alleged murder-suicide in Mechanicville, New York, left six family members dead last week, with police naming 64-year-old grandmother Amy Steadman as the primary suspect in an intentional poisoning that killed her, her 44-year-old daughter Sarah Myers, and Myers’ four children: 13-year-old Harper Harmon, 11-year-old Hudson Harmon, and 10-year-old twins Gavin and Gracelynn Harmon.

Police Findings

Authorities discovered the bodies on the evening of Tuesday, June 23, 2026, after concerned neighbors reported not seeing the family for several days. Mechanicville Chief of Police William Rabbitt stated that evidence at the scene, including numerous over-the-counter medications and a handwritten note, pointed to intentional poisoning.

“There is recovered evidence inside the apartment to indicate intentional poisoning… evidence recovered during the investigation, including a handwritten note and other circumstantial evidence, strongly suggest that Amy Steadman was involved in the deaths,” Chief Rabbitt said at a news conference on June 25.

Police have not yet released a confirmed motive or full autopsy results, but they described the incident as an alleged murder-suicide.

Terse Obituary for the Accused Grandmother

A strikingly brief obituary for Amy Steadman published shortly after the tragedy avoided any warm remembrances. It read simply: “Amy J. Steadman, 64, passed away on Tuesday, June 23, 2026. Per the request of the family, services were held privately.”

In contrast, Sarah Myers’ obituary described her as “a devoted mother who loved her children” and who “cared for them with the utmost devotion and love.”

Father’s Perspective and Ongoing Custody Battle

The children’s father, Brady Harmon (who lives in Utah and had been estranged from the family), has spoken publicly about the tragedy. He had not seen his children since 2019 amid a contentious custody dispute. A court-ordered 60-day visitation was scheduled to begin on July 1 — just days after the deaths.

Harmon told media outlets he believes his ex-wife Sarah Myers and her mother Amy Steadman acted together. “It’s my speculation [Steadman and Myers] did that together,” he said, adding that he thinks the children were killed “because they were going to spend 60 days with me.”

He expressed deep grief, saying he had planned camping trips and national park visits with the children. “I just feel so sorry I was not able to have an opportunity to sit there and love my children and hug them one more time,” Harmon shared. He plans to bury the four children in Utah, stating he wants them “as far away as possible from their mother.”

Another ex-husband of Myers, John Bauman, offered a different view, describing her as a “good person” who “did everything for them kids” and had “nothing even close to having anything to do with their deaths.”

Weeks before the tragedy, Myers had reportedly shared a now-deleted GoFundMe page claiming she was a domestic violence survivor seeking funds for legal and travel costs related to the custody battle.

Investigation Status

The Mechanicville Police Department has said more details will be released once autopsies are completed. A makeshift memorial has been set up outside the apartment complex where the family was found.

This heartbreaking case continues to draw attention as authorities piece together the circumstances surrounding the alleged poisoning.