A grandmother suspected of fatally poisoning her daughter and four grandchildren before taking her own life has been remembered by surviving family members in a blunt, two-line obituary. Amy Steadman, 64, her daughter Sarah Myers, 44, and four grandchildren—Harper Harmon, 13, Hudson Harmon, 11, and 10-year-olds Gavin Harmon and Gracelynn Harmon—were found dead at Steadman’s home in Mechanicville, New York, on June 23.
Authorities Discover Handwritten Note Suggesting Poisoning
According to authorities, who discovered the bodies after responding to a welfare check, a handwritten note found at the scene “strongly suggests that Steadman poisoned her five family members.” Mechanicville police chief William Rabbitt said: “There is recovered evidence inside the apartment that indicates intentional poisoning with numerous prescriptions and over-the-counter medication,” adding that additional toxicology testing would be conducted. He further noted that one of the four children died from “fatal sharp-force injuries.”
Family's Terse Obituary for Steadman
While inquiries into the case are ongoing, the family paid little tribute to Steadman in an obituary published by New Comer Cremations and Funerals in Albany. 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, a second obituary for Myers described her as “a devoted mother who loved her children” and “cared for them with the utmost devotion and love.”
Custody Battle and Domestic Violence Claims
According to reports, Myers had been locked in a custody battle with the children’s father, Brady Harmon, who lives in Utah and had not seen his children in person since 2019. He had been planning to take them home for the summer, but Myers was due in court for a custody hearing on June 29 amid claims she had not been adhering to the parenting plan. Local news channel WNYT reported that Myers shared a since-deleted GoFundMe created by a friend weeks before her death, stating she needed to raise money to travel to Utah for the custody battle and to hire a lawyer. Myers had also claimed on social media she was a victim of domestic violence—a claim Harmon strenuously denies.
Father's Fears and Final Communication
The couple married in 2015 but separated four years later, which was the last time Harmon saw his children, though he continued to speak to them, most recently on June 7. However, he said he received a text from Myers on June 10 telling him: “Hey the kids are sick, we’ll talk to you on the 11th,” the same day his lawyer sent her paperwork relating to the custody hearing. Speaking to The US Sun, Harmon expressed fears that this may have “pushed the family over the edge,” adding that concern for his children rose after he was unable to reach them, and that he called police multiple times to request welfare checks. He revealed he raised the alarm after they missed a scheduled video call on June 13. “I was like ‘I’m sorry to burden you but I cannot get a hold of these kids, and she said they were sick, and I’m worried something’s gone on’,” Harmon explained.
Discovery of Bodies and Neighbor's Account
The six bodies were eventually found after a neighbor, Stephanie Sweeney, called police to request a check, having not heard from them in days. Sweeney saw flies gathering around the window of Steadman’s apartment and claimed she could “smell death” when she attempted to visit. Police in Utah later broke the devastating news to Harmon at his home. “I have been fighting for so long to be able to have access to them, fighting so long to be part of their lives and show them there’s something different,” he told Spectrum News 1. “Almost to that finish line, have my legs cut out from me and gutted because someone decided to take my kids away from me.” Harmon speculated that his ex-wife might have carried out the crime together with Steadman, saying: “And all because they were going to spend 60 days with me. Sixty days in six and a half years. I finally get 60 days, and I get this thrown in my face.”
Ex-Husband Defends Myers
However, John Bauman, another ex-husband of Myers, refuted this suggestion, telling Spectrum News 1 that she was “a good person,” adding: “To me, I would say she did have nothing even close to having anything to do with their deaths, you know, at all. Because they were her world.” The Mechanicville Police Department has said it will release more information once autopsies are completed. Rabbitt said: “The Mechanicville Police Department, in partnership with the New York State Police, remains committed to conducting a thorough and complete investigation while providing as much information as possible without compromising the integrity of that investigation. Mechanicville is a close-knit city. Many residents knew the family involved, have children and grandchildren of their own, or simply cannot comprehend the loss of six lives under such heartbreaking circumstances. Our thoughts remain with the family members, friends, neighbors, first responders and everyone affected by this tragedy.”
