Full Breakdown
Six Family Deaths in Mechanicville Apartment
6/26/2026, 6:49:31 AM
Core Event: Six Family Deaths in Mechanicville Apartment
On June 23, 2026, Mechanicville police performed a welfare check at 2 Harris Avenue after neighbors reported the family’s absence. Officers discovered six deceased individuals: 64-year-old Amy Steadman, her 44-year-old daughter Sarah Myers, and Myers’ four children—Harper (13), Hudson (11), and twins Gavin and Gracelynn (both 10).
Background: Custody Dispute and Living Arrangements
Sarah Myers and her children were homeschooled and lived in a separate apartment within the John S. Moore Homes complex. A Utah court order finalized in 2020 granted their father, Brady Harmon, summer visitation from July 1 to September 1, 2026, and was set to take effect shortly before the deaths.
Evidence and Preliminary Findings
Police recovered numerous prescription and over-the-counter medication bottles, indicating intentional poisoning. One child exhibited fatal sharp-force injuries; the others showed signs consistent with drug ingestion. A handwritten note found at the scene “strongly suggests” Steadman’s involvement, though its contents remain undisclosed.
Official Police Statements
Chief William Rabbitt said the deaths appear to have occurred entirely inside the apartment, with no evidence of outside involvement. He described the investigation as “in its infancy,” pending toxicology results and medical examiner conclusions, and affirmed there is “no threat to the public.”
Family Perspective
Brady Harmon, the children’s father, expressed profound loss, stating, “I went from I’m seeing my kids to I’ll never see my kids again.” He noted the custody order had been finalized weeks earlier and that he had been preparing to reunite with the children when the tragedy occurred.
Community Reactions
Neighbors described the family as well-known in the close-knit community. Stephanie Sweeney said, “Amy was one of my best friends,” while Rose Young recalled noticing “the smell of death” before calling 911. Police emphasized there is no ongoing public safety threat.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Sources differ on whether poisoning or the sharp-force injury caused each death; toxicology results and the note’s full text remain pending. Investigators have not disclosed the note’s contents, and the exact time the victims died has not been established.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Evidence recovered during the investigation, including a hand-written-note, strongly suggest that Amy Steadman was involved in their deaths.” — William Rabbitt, Mechanicville Police Chief
- “I went from I’m seeing my kids to I’ll never see my kids again,” — Brady Harmon, father
- “I noticed the smell of death,” — Rose Young, neighbor
- “ “Amy was one of my best friends.” — Stephanie Sweeney, neighbor
What’s Next
The investigation proceeds with toxicology testing, autopsy completion, and analysis of the handwritten note. Police have asked the public to contact the Mechanicville Police Department with any information, while the New York State Police Major Crimes Unit continues to assist.
