Police ruled the children’s deaths homicides but have not publicly determined who was responsible for each killing.
MECHANICVILLE, N.Y. — The father of four children found dead with their mother and grandmother in a Mechanicville apartment is seeking more information as police continue investigating the six deaths and await final forensic findings.
Brady Harmon said he wants investigators to explain what the evidence shows, what happened to each of his children and whether earlier intervention could have prevented their deaths. Police have ruled the deaths of the four children homicides. Their mother, 44-year-old Sarah Myers, and their maternal grandmother, 64-year-old Amy Steadman, died by suicide, Police Chief William Rabbitt said.
The children were Harper Harmon, 13; Hudson Harmon, 11; and 10-year-old twins Gavin and Gracelynn Harmon. Officers found all six family members dead June 23 inside Steadman’s apartment at the John S. Moore Homes on Harris Avenue. Police had been asked to conduct a welfare check after the family had not been seen for several days.
Investigators have not released a complete account of the sequence of events or identified who caused each child’s death. Police initially said evidence strongly suggested Steadman was involved. Rabbitt later said investigators had not ruled out the possibility that Myers also participated in the children’s deaths. Authorities have not announced a motive.
Police said evidence inside the apartment pointed to intentional poisoning and that investigators found prescription and over-the-counter medications. Rabbitt also said one child suffered fatal sharp-force injuries. Complete toxicology findings and final medical examiner reports have not been made public.
A handwritten note was also recovered from the apartment, according to police. Investigators have not disclosed its contents or publicly identified its author. Harmon said he has not seen the note and wants to know what it says. Police have said their final conclusions will depend on the full investigative record, including laboratory testing and medical examiner reviews.
Harmon, who lives in Utah, said he had not seen the children in person since 2019 amid a long-running custody dispute with Myers. Court records reviewed by local news organizations showed the parents had been awarded joint custody and that a new arrangement was expected to give Harmon summer parenting time. He was preparing for a reunion with the children in early July when he learned they had died.
Harmon has also raised questions about contacts involving Saratoga County Child Protective Services. He said he received letters from 2020 through 2024 concerning investigations into allegations that included abuse, maltreatment, inadequate guardianship or educational neglect. The circumstances and findings of those inquiries have not been fully released, and authorities have not established publicly whether any agency action was connected to the deaths.
After the children were cremated, Harmon brought their remains to Utah. Their ashes were scattered on a mountain where his father’s ashes had previously been placed. Harmon said he is now gathering photographs, belongings and other information to reconstruct the years of his children’s lives that he missed.
The deaths have left competing accounts among surviving relatives. Myers’ father has publicly described her as a devoted mother, while Harmon has said his experiences during the custody case caused him to suspect that both women may have been involved. Police have not adopted either family’s account as a final finding and have cautioned that the investigation remains active.
Investigators have not announced any additional suspect or established publicly whether Steadman acted alone. The final causes and circumstances of all six deaths will depend on pending toxicology, forensic and medical findings. Police said further information may be released after those reviews are completed.
Author note: Last updated July 30, 2026.