The Mechanicville Police Department says the deaths of four children in a city apartment in June were planned and coordinated by the children’s mother and grandmother.
Police Chief Bill Rabbit detailed during a press conference Tuesday that the killings took place on June 10.
The bodies of grandmother Amy Steadman, mother Sarah Myers and Myers’ four children were discovered after police performed a wellness check at Steadman’s apartment nearly two weeks later.
Rabbit said text messages between Steadman and Myers indicated planning of the children’s killings began no later than June 5. The pair were also found to have communicated and coordinated on the day of the murder.
While toxicology reports have not yet been returned, police believe the children were given drugs after their caretakers obtained over-the-counter sleep aids and prescription drugs.
One child was found to have multiple stab wounds, including defensive injuries. The deaths of Myers and Steadman were ruled suicides.
Rabbit said the incident will have a lasting impact on the small Saratoga County city.
“This tragedy will remain a part of Mechanicville’s history," he said. "It will be remembered by those who live here, those who work here, and those who love this community. We should remember Harper, Hudson, Gavin and Gracelynn Harmon simply not for how they died but because they were children with families, friends, interests and futures that should never have been taken from them.”
Rabbit said Steadman and Myers believed the murders were a way of protecting the children from their father, Brady Harmon, who lives in Utah. Harmon, who was involved in a custody dispute, reportedly denies any allegations of mistreatment.
“One of the earliest pieces of evidence recovered was a handwritten letter signed with Amy Steadman’s name. In that letter, the author accepts responsibility for what occurred and states they believed killing the children was the only way to keep them safe from alleged abuse in Utah,” Rabbitt said. "The author also claims Sarah Myers had done everything she could and that no one would help her and acknowledges that the events did not unfold as they planned.
“Investigators also recovered a series of handwritten papers that appear to have been written by Sarah Myers. Although those writings were unsigned, the author repeatedly referred to ‘my babies’ and expressed anger toward the Utah family court system and made allegations that she and the children had been abused while living in Utah and complained that she had been unable to obtain legal representation.”
Besides communicating in the days ahead of the murders, Rabbitt said text messages between Steadman and Myers indicated they communicated and coordinated on the day of the murder.
“In one exchange, Sarah Myers instructed Amy Steadman that the medications should be administered between 10:30 a.m. and noon so they could be finished before a scheduled telephone call at 6 p.m. with the children’s father,” said Rabbitt. “Late that morning, as the children failed to respond in the manner Steadman and Myers had anticipated, one of the messages stated ‘it’s not working, we need another option.’"
"Investigators also recovered a message from Gracelynm that began ‘Why would you do that, you both won’t let me puke,’ before describing increasing pain in her stomach.’ Later that evening, Amy Steadman sent a final, disturbing message stating ‘Gracie is aware.’”
Rabbit added police made two wellness checks at the apartment complex where the bodies were discovered on June 13 and 17. Officers knocked, did not hear any response, but did not enter the apartment.
Rabbitt said the final toxicology reports have not yet been completed – police suggest more may come to light about why one child suffered fatal stab wounds and clarify other details once those findings are finalized.
The investigation otherwise remains open.
