A New York grandmother killed her four grandchildren — poisoning three and stabbing another — in a murder-suicide plot coordinated with their mother, who also died by suicide, police said Tuesday.
Background
The children — Harper Harmon, 13; Hudson Harmon, 11; and twins Gavin and Gracelynn Harmon, both 10 — were found dead on June 23 inside Amy Steadman's Mechanicville apartment after a neighbor requested a welfare check. They had been dead for an extended period before officers arrived, according to Police Chief Bill Rabbit.
Handwritten letters left behind 'strongly' suggested the killings were planned with Myers as a way to stop the children's father, Brady Harmon of Utah, from allegedly abusing them. Court records show Myers and Harmon divorced in 2020 and initially shared joint custody, but an agreement allowed Myers to have the children during the school year while Harmon had uninterrupted summer visits from July to September.
The Investigation
Electronic communications recovered by investigators show Steadman and Myers discussed 'obtaining medications, where the murders would occur, how those medications would be administered, how the children would be brought together, what they would be told, and how suspicion could be avoided' in the days before the slayings, Rabbit said. Those messages also document coordination while the murders were taking place.
Steadman visited several pharmacies, obtaining multiple doses of over-the-counter sleep aids and picking up her own prescribed medication. Internet searches from her home included queries about medication reactions, the effects of insulin on non-diabetics, and the Utah court system. In one search she wrote, 'Where's the most fatal place to be stabbed?' and in another, 'find the carotid artery in the neck.'
When the children failed to respond as anticipated to the medications, a text message between Steadman and Myers said, 'It's not working. We need another option.' Gracelynn sent a message reading, 'Why would you do that? You both won't let me puke,' describing increasing stomach pain. Gavin had a defensive wound indicating he attempted to protect himself.
Key Takeaways
- Both Amy Steadman and Sarah Myers died by suicide after the killings; no criminal charges were filed.
- Police recovered communications showing detailed planning for the murders, including coordination during the act.
- Three children were poisoned with medication; one child was stabbed.
- The alleged motive was to prevent the children from spending summer custody time with their father in Utah.
What's Next
Because both suspects are deceased, no prosecution is expected. Police said the investigation continues as they review remaining evidence. Brady Harmon told the Times Union he plans to bury the children in Utah 'as far away as possible from their mother.'