The grieving father of four children found dead in an upstate New York apartment is speaking out after police said their mother and grandmother were responsible, condemning the women and saying they belong in a “special place in hell.”
Mechanicville Police Chief William Rabbitt said Tuesday that Sarah Myers, 44, and her mother, 64-year-old Amy Steadman, “conspired in carrying out the murders of the four children” on June 10 before both women died by suicide — an announcement that appeared to validate Brady Harmon’s worst fears.
“I knew my kids were murdered,” Harmon told News10 on Tuesday as he responded to the devastating update. “And then I know those two are the ones that did it.”
According to Rabbitt, three of Harmon’s children — 13-year-old Harper, 11-year-old Hudson and 10-year-old Gracelynn — were poisoned. His 10-year-old son, Gavin Harmon, was stabbed while trying to protect himself, police said.
“My kids suffered,” Harmon told WRGB. “To poison them and also to stab them – there’s a special place in hell for people like that.”
Harmon, who lives in Utah, had been involved in a contentious custody battle with his ex-wife, Myers. He said he had not seen his children in person since November 2019.
The children had been expected to spend the summer with him in the Beehive State before they were killed.
Authorities also disclosed Tuesday that investigators recovered a note written by Steadman, saying the writer took responsibility for what happened and claimed they believed killing the children was the only way to protect them from alleged abuse in Utah.
Cops also found letters they suspect were written by Myers where she also claimed her children had been abused.
“Although those writings were unsigned, the author repeatedly referred to ‘my babies,’ expressed anger toward the Utah family court system, made allegations that she and the children had been abused while living in Utah and complained that she had been unable to obtain legal representation,” Rabbitt told reporters.
“Whatever [Myers and Steadman] believed justified their actions, the deliberate murder of four children cannot be described as protection,” he blasted.
Brady Harmon has categorically denied the allegations, and Rabbitt revealed police could independently verify the claims.
Harmon had previously claimed Steadman didn’t want him to see his children.
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Rabbitt revealed Steadman had visited several pharmacies in the days leading up to the June 10 killings – and had messaged her daughter about the sadistic plot.
Text messages included “discussions regarding 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,” according to the police chief.
“In one exchange, Sarah Myers instructed Amy Steadman that the medications should be administered between 10:30 a.m. and noon so they could be finished before a scheduled telephone call at 6 p.m. with the children’s father,” Rabbitt said.
Later that morning, “as the children failed to respond in the manner that Steadman and Myers had anticipated,” one of the women messaged the other saying: “‘It’s not working. We need another option,’” Rabbitt said.
Gracelynn complained about her stomach hurting, prompting Steadman to message her daughter, “Gracie is aware.”
Investigators combed through Steadman’s internet history – where they found several sickening searches.
She researched medication reactions, with later searches including “Where is the most fatal place to be stabbed’,” which produced results about a specific artery as well as the neck.” according to Rabbitt.
Brady Harmon said he spoke with Myers on the day of the murder, and was told to call back the next day.
Myers reportedly told him that the children were sick, but would be able to chat on June 11.
The bodies were not found until June 23 when cops swooped on their home carrying out a welfare check.
Days after the bodies were found, Rabbitt said the human remains were too badly decomposed, which made it difficult for responding cops to identify them.
Syringes were also found in Steadman’s home, leaving Brady Harmon with unanswered questions.
“They stabbed my son; they poisoned my children,” he told the Times-Union.
“All in the delusional state of, ‘We’re doing this for your benefit.’”
If you are struggling with suicidal thoughts or are experiencing a mental health crisis and live in New York City, you can call 1-888-NYC-WELL for free and confidential crisis counseling. If you live outside the five boroughs, you can dial the 24/7 National Suicide Prevention hotline at 988 or go to SuicidePreventionLifeline.org.
