Who were Sarah Myers and Amy Steadman? What we know about the New York mother, grandmother after alleged murder-suicide
Who Were Sarah Myers and Amy Steadman? New York Murder-Suicide Explained
Bharatmorningnews.com – Who were Sarah Myers and Amy Steadman? These two New York women became the center of a heartbreaking tragedy after allegedly killing four children and then taking their own lives. The devastating incident occurred at a Mechanicville residence in Saratoga County, leaving the community in shock and investigators piecing together a carefully planned sequence of events.
The Victims and Their Discovery
After vanishing from public view for more than a week, the family was discovered deceased on June 23. Sarah Myers, a 44-year-old mother, and her mother Amy Steadman, 64, were found alongside their four children: Harper Harmon, 13; Hudson Harmon, 11; and twins Gavin and Gracelynn Harmon, both 10 years old.
According to Police Chief William Rabbitt, the women administered medication to the children before both Myers and Steadman died from self-inflicted gunshot wounds. The discovery came after neighbors noticed unusual odors coming from the grandmother's apartment, prompting police to conduct a welfare check that revealed the grim scene inside.
A Premeditated Plan
While authorities have not officially confirmed a motive, evidence suggests the tragedy was planned well in advance. Text messages recovered by investigators show that Steadman and Myers began discussing their intentions as early as June 5. The two women, who lived in the same apartment complex, allegedly coordinated their actions through regular text exchanges.
According to one of the recovered texts, Rabbitt noted that one of the children was aware of what was happening and that the medication was not taking effect as expected.
In the days leading up to the incident, the women made multiple trips to pharmacies to acquire prescription medications and sleeping pills. Chief Rabbitt confirmed that the text messages verified the murder-suicide occurred on June 10, though the bodies were not discovered until June 23.
Missed Opportunities for Intervention
Law enforcement attempted to locate the family twice without success during the critical period. Welfare checks were conducted on June 13 and June 17, but officers received no response at Myers' apartment on both occasions. On the first attempt, police were unaware that she and the children had moved to Steadman's unit within the same building.
The timeline reveals that the family had actually been deceased for over a week before their bodies were found, raising questions about why earlier welfare checks failed to uncover the tragedy.
Protecting the Children from Abuse
Investigators uncovered handwritten notes left by both Steadman and Myers that provide insight into their reasoning. In these messages, the women claimed they killed the children to shield them from alleged abuse by their father, Brady Harmon, who currently resides in Utah.
According to Rabbitt, Steadman had conducted extensive online research regarding fatal injuries, including queries about "where is the most fatal place to be stabbed" and information about locating "the carotid artery in the neck." Gavin Harmon reportedly suffered multiple knife wounds while attempting to defend himself during the incident.
The Father's Heartbreak
Brady Harmon spoke with ABC station WTEN in June, revealing that he and Myers had separated in November 2019. He had planned to collect the children for what would have been their first visit in six and a half years. A text message from Myers read: "The kids have gotten a little stomach bug throwing up is it okay to switch your online visit to tomorrow night at 4 pm your time please."
Harmon's response was simple and caring: "Okay I will keep painting then. Hopefully they feel better soon."
He later texted asking if the children were recovering, but his video call scheduled for 4:02 p.m. went unanswered. The family's tragic story continues to unfold as investigators piece together the complete timeline of events that led to this heartbreaking loss of life.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who were Sarah Myers and Amy Steadman? Sarah Myers was a 44-year-old mother and Amy Steadman was her 64-year-old mother. Together, they allegedly killed four children and then took their own lives in a murder-suicide in Mechanicville, New York.
When did the tragedy occur? The murder-suicide took place on June 10, but the bodies were not discovered until June 23 when neighbors noticed unusual odors from the apartment.
What were the children's names and ages? The four children were Harper Harmon, 13; Hudson Harmon, 11; and twins Gavin and Gracelynn Harmon, both 10 years old.
What motive did the women claim? According to handwritten notes, Steadman and Myers believed they were protecting the children from alleged abuse by their father, Brady Harmon.