Market Of Bliss
An upstate New York home recently became the scene of an unimaginable tragedy. A grandmother who, based on the evidence discovered, allegedly poisoned her daughter and four grandchildren, leaving behind a devastated father who says he does not know whether he will ever recover from the loss.
The New York Post reports that on June 23, authorities discovered six bodies inside a Harris Avenue apartment. The victims were identified as Harper Harmon, 13; Hudson Harmon, 11; twins Gavin and Gracelynn Harmon, both 10; their mother, Sarah Myers; and their grandmother, Amy Steadman. Investigators quickly found evidence suggesting the deaths were the result of intentional poisoning.
The police found a handwritten note
One of the children had been stabbed, while the others are believed to have ingested a combination of prescription and over-the-counter medications. Mechanicville police later identified Steadman as the primary suspect after she allegedly left behind a handwritten note at the scene. Authorities have not released the contents of the note.
Myers and the children’s father, Brady Harmon, had been living separately since 2019. Harmon remained in Utah while his children lived with their mother and grandmother in upstate New York. The former couple had been locked in a lengthy custody battle ever since their divorce was finalized in 2020.
After nearly six years of legal disputes, Harmon was reportedly granted joint custody in April. He told the New York Post that beginning July 1, he was finally scheduled to have his first uninterrupted 60-day visitation with his children.
He said the last time he spoke to them was on June 7, they “seemed like happy little kids.” Still grieving, Harmon recalled their conversations: “Harper and Grace would show me their drawings, Hudson would show me their cat and Gavin would show me something he built.”
Harmon revealed that he learned of the tragedy while making final preparations for his trip to New York, where he planned to pick up his children and take them back to Salt Lake City for what he hoped would be long-overdue one-on-one time together.
Reflecting on the loss, he said, “They say time heals all wounds, but this is a gaping hole that will never heal … it will never go away.”
He speculated that they did it together
According to CBS6 Albany, Myers was scheduled to appear in court on June 29 after Harmon filed a motion accusing her of withholding the children’s school and medical records. Investigators now believe the killings may have been connected to the upcoming 60-day visitation. According to Spectrum News, both Myers and Steadman had expressed significant resentment following Harmon’s legal victory.
Harmon told Spectrum News, “It’s my speculation they did that together.” He continued, “And all because they were going to spend 60 days with me. Sixty days in six and a half years. I finally get 60 days, and I get this thrown in my face.”
Steadman had lived with Harmon, her daughter, and her grandkids in the past, when they were all still together. While he describes her as someone who was “never really a cordial, warm person to be around … it was very arm’s distance, I guess,” he believed that “she was just a doting grandma, you know, she’d spoil the kids – the grandkids.”
He also told the Post that even if his ex-wife was not directly involved, he still believes she failed to protect their children. He added that he plans to bury his children in Utah, away from the place where he lost them forever. “I don’t believe anyone who can’t protect them should be anywhere close to them,” he said. “If she had anything to do with it, that’s just another reason why.”
