A handwritten confession letter found at the scene of a murder-suicide in Mechanicville, New York, indicates that the killings of four children and their grandmother and mother were meticulously planned. The letter, signed by grandmother Amy Steadman, 64, stated that she believed killing the children was the only way to protect them from alleged abuse in Utah, according to Mechanicville Police Chief Bill Rabbitt.
Steadman, her daughter Sarah Myers, 44, and Myers' four children – Harper Harmon, 13; Hudson Harmon, 11; and 10-year-old twins Gavin and Gracelynn Harmon – were found dead in the apartment on June 23. The children were scheduled to travel to Utah to stay with their father, Brady Harmon, shortly after the discovery. Rabbitt stated that Brady Harmon denied all allegations of abuse when interviewed by police.
Investigators confirmed that Steadman made multiple pharmacy visits in the days leading up to the murders. Surveillance footage and pharmacy records documented her obtaining over-the-counter sleep aids and prescription medications. These purchases, viewed alongside recovered text messages between Steadman and Myers, indicated a coordinated plan.
The recovered communications showed discussions about acquiring medications, the location of the killings, how the medications would be administered, how the children would be gathered, what they would be told, and methods to avoid suspicion. These electronic exchanges indicated that planning began no later than June 5, 2026, Rabbitt said.
The murders of the children, which included the stabbing death of Gavin Harmon, occurred on June 10. Steadman's internet search history also revealed concerning queries, including searches about medication reactions, the effects of insulin on non-diabetics, and the Utah court system. Later searches included queries about the most fatal places to be stabbed.