Toxicology Report Reveals New Details in Deaths of Four Children in Mechanicville Family Murder-Suicide

The four children were found dead after they were allegedly poisoned by their mother Sarah Myers, 44, and their grandmother Amy Steadman, 64, who then took their own lives, authorities said.facebook/sarah.myersharmon

New toxicology findings have shed further light on the deaths of four children in a family murder-suicide that stunned the small upstate New York city of Mechanicville earlier this summer.

Harper Harmon, 13, his brother Hudson, 11, and 10-year-old twins Gavin and Gracelynn Harmon all had kratom and diphenhydramine — the active ingredient in Benadryl — in their systems, according to sources familiar with a toxicology report. The findings add another piece to an investigation that has unfolded over more than two months.

Authorities have said the four children were killed by their mother, Sarah Myers, 44, and grandmother, Amy Steadman, 64, before the two women died by suicide. Police have classified the children’s deaths as homicides and the deaths of Myers and Steadman as suicides.

Toxicology findings provide new information

According to the latest report, all four children had diphenhydramine and kratom in their systems.

Diphenhydramine is an antihistamine commonly found in medications such as Benadryl and can cause drowsiness. Kratom is a plant-derived substance with psychoactive properties and opioid-like effects.

Earlier in the investigation, police said evidence at the scene pointed toward the intentional use of prescription and over-the-counter medications. At that stage, however, toxicology testing and medical examiner reviews had not yet been completed.

Investigators have said Harper, Hudson and Gracelynn died from poisoning. Gavin was also given the substances, according to the newly reported toxicology findings, but authorities have said the 10-year-old suffered fatal sharp-force injuries while attempting to defend himself.

Six family members found inside Harris Avenue apartment

Amy Steadman, 64, is seen holding her grandchildren.facebook/amy.steadman.54

The case began publicly on June 23, when police conducting a welfare check entered Steadman’s apartment on Harris Avenue in Mechanicville, roughly 18 miles north of Albany.

Inside, officers discovered six members of the same family: Steadman; her daughter, Myers; and Myers’ four children. The bodies had apparently been inside the residence for days before they were discovered.

Investigators later concluded that the killings took place on June 10.

Police Chief William Rabbitt said evidence recovered during the investigation indicated Myers and Steadman had planned the deaths together. Authorities said the planning may have begun as early as June 5, when Steadman started visiting pharmacies to obtain over-the-counter sleep aids as well as prescribed medication.

Investigators also recovered text messages that they said showed the women discussing how medications would be administered to the children. One exchange indicated that the substances were not having the effect they expected and that one of the children had become aware something was happening.

Children were preparing for summer with their father

Myers had been locked in a bitter custody battle with her ex-husband Brady Harmon (pictured) at the time of the killings.Brady Harmon/facebook

The tragedy unfolded against the backdrop of a long-running custody dispute between Myers and her former husband, Brady Harmon, who lives in Utah.

Court records reported by local media showed the couple married in December 2015, separated in 2019 and finalized their divorce in 2020. Their parenting arrangement gave Myers custody during the school year, while Harmon was entitled to extended parenting time during the summer.

Harmon had not seen the children in person since 2019 and was preparing for them to travel to Utah for the summer. According to reporting on the custody arrangement, the children were expected to stay with him from July 1 through September 1.

Their deaths came only weeks before that planned reunion.

Harmon later shared messages showing that he had been making preparations for their arrival. On June 8, he asked Myers about the children’s current interests and hobbies so he could plan activities for their summer together.

Investigators examined claims left behind by Myers and Steadman

The drugs were discovered in the systems of Harper, 13; Hudson, 11; Gracelynn, 10; and Gavin Harmon, 10, who all died in the horrific filicide in Mechanicsville back in June.irissca – stock.adobe.com

Police said writings recovered during the investigation portrayed the killings as an attempt by Myers and Steadman to prevent the children from returning to their father.

Myers accused Harmon of abusing her and the children. Harmon has denied those allegations, and investigators said they had found no evidence substantiating the alleged abuse.

Rabbitt rejected the idea that the children’s deaths could be characterized as an act of protection.

“Whatever they believed to justify their actions, the murder of four children cannot be described as protection.”

Harmon has also spoken publicly about the case, expressing anger over what his children endured and strongly condemning his former wife.

The newly reported toxicology results now provide additional information about what was found in all four children’s bodies, building on investigators’ earlier conclusion that medication played a central role in the deaths.

For Mechanicville, the case has remained deeply affecting since the six family members were discovered in June. Police described the city as a close-knit community in which many residents knew the family or struggled to comprehend the deaths of four children from the same household.