Brady Harmon, the father of four children found dead alongside their mother and grandmother in Mechanicville, New York, has spoken out about the tragedy that unfolded just days before Father's Day. The six bodies were discovered on Tuesday in their apartment, with police suspecting intentional poisoning. The victims were identified as Amy Steadman, 64; her daughter Sarah Myers, 44; and Myers' four children: Harper, 13; Hudson, 11; and twins Gavin and Gracelynn, both 10.
Police Investigation Reveals Evidence of Poisoning
Mechanicville Police Department Chief William Rabbitt stated that authorities found evidence suggesting intentional poisoning, and an autopsy revealed one child had suffered fatal blunt-force injuries. A note found at the scene, along with circumstantial evidence, strongly implicated Amy Steadman, according to the chief. Police have assured the public there is no ongoing danger, but the tight-knit community remains deeply unsettled.
Father's Account of Custody Dispute
Brady Harmon, who had been in a custody dispute with Myers, revealed he last saw his children in 2019 after separating from Myers in 2019. He last spoke to them on June 7, and on June 10 received a message from Myers saying the children were sick. That same day, his lawyer sent documentation about an upcoming custody hearing set for June 29. Harmon speculated that the legal pressure may have triggered the tragedy. He told the US Sun: "So, I don't know if that pushed them over the edge because like, 'Oh my gosh, he actually has a lawyer that's going to do his job. And we don't know a way out of this, so let's do the next best thing. He'll never have access to these kids...' and then do what they did."
Father's Efforts to Reach Children
Harmon contacted police multiple times requesting welfare checks after learning the children were unwell. He described regular FaceTime calls with his children, saying they were "happy little kids." He told the New York Post: "Harper and Grace would show me their drawings, Hudson would show me their cat and Gavin would show me something he built." He learned of their deaths just two days before Father's Day, saying: "No mother, no sane mother, parent or anything would sit there and allow that to happen."
Conflicting Accounts and Allegations
Steadman's former husband, John Bauman, told Spectrum News that Steadman adored the children and did not believe she was involved. In 2022, Steadman posted a GoFundMe to help her daughter obtain a domestic violence lawyer. However, Harmon refuted those claims, stating Myers was the "culprit" rather than a victim. He also alleged that Myers stabbed him in the face with a medicine dropper during a 2019 altercation and that she prevented him from seeing the children to maintain control.
