FOUR CHILDREN, ONE CHILLING PLAN — NEW TOXICOLOGY REPORT REVEALS WHAT WAS FOUND IN THEIR SYSTEMS

A new toxicology report has revealed one of the most disturbing details yet in the Mechanicville, New York, family tragedy: four young siblings had kratom and diphenhydramine — the active ingredient in Benadryl — in their systems before their deaths, according to reports citing sources familiar with the findings.

The children were Harper Harmon, 13; Hudson Harmon, 11; and 10-year-old twins Gavin and Gracelynn Harmon.

Their mother, Sarah Myers, 44, and grandmother, Amy Steadman, 64, were also found dead in Steadman’s Mechanicville apartment.

Authorities have described the June incident as a murder-suicide and believe Myers and Steadman conspired to harm the children before taking their own lives.

THE TOXICOLOGY FINDING

According to sources cited by NewsChannel 13, all four children had kratom and diphenhydramine in their blood.

Diphenhydramine is the active ingredient in common allergy medication such as Benadryl and can cause drowsiness.

Kratom is a psychoactive herbal substance that can produce opioid-like effects, according to the FDA.

Investigators have previously alleged that the substances were part of a plan to poison the children.

Police reportedly believe the plan began on the morning of June 10, when the family was together inside Steadman’s apartment.

WHEN THE FIRST PLAN ALLEGEDLY FAILED

Investigators have previously said that Myers and Steadman intended to poison the children between approximately 10:30 a.m. and noon.

But according to police, the substances did not work as quickly as expected.

One of the women allegedly sent a message saying:

“It’s not working, we need another option.”

Investigators later recovered searches from Steadman’s phone that they say showed an interest in medication reactions and other ways of causing fatal injuries.

The searches allegedly included questions about what insulin does to someone without diabetes, as well as searches concerning where a person could be fatally stabbed.

GAVIN ALLEGEDLY FOUGHT BACK

Authorities have said that Gavin Harmon, 10, survived the initial poisoning attempt and was later fatally stabbed.

Police previously said the boy had defensive wounds, suggesting he may have tried to protect himself.

His twin sister, Gracelynn, allegedly sent a heartbreaking message while she was becoming seriously ill.

According to investigators, she wrote:

“Why would you do that? You both won’t let me puke.”

Steadman allegedly responded to Myers:

“Gracie is aware.”

The messages have become some of the most haunting pieces of evidence in the investigation.

A CUSTODY BATTLE WAS UNFOLDING

The tragedy came amid a bitter custody dispute between Myers and her former husband, Brady Harmon.

Harmon lived in Utah and had reportedly not seen his children in person since 2019. He was preparing to spend an extended period with them when the children died.

Authorities later recovered a handwritten letter in which Myers accused Harmon of abusing her and the children and claimed the children were harmed in order to protect them.

Harmon has denied the allegations.

Investigators have said they found no evidence supporting the abuse claims, and Harmon has never been charged in connection with them.

Harmon has since spoken publicly about the loss of his children, saying he could not understand how anyone could claim the children were harmed to protect them.

THE CHILDREN WERE NOT FOUND FOR DAYS

The four siblings were believed to have died on June 10.

But their bodies were not discovered until June 23, when police conducted a welfare check.

Myers and Steadman were also found dead inside the apartment.

The newly reported toxicology findings add another disturbing layer to a case that investigators say involved planning, a custody dispute and an alleged attempt to conceal what had happened.

For the children’s father, however, the investigation has never changed the central fact of the tragedy: four children who were supposed to be protected by the adults around them never made it to the summer they were expecting.

Their deaths remain under investigation, and authorities are expected to provide additional information about the toxicology findings.