New York cops investigating a murder-suicide that left a grandmother, her daughter, and her four grandchildren dead have not ruled out the theory that the kids’ mom may have been complicit in their deaths.
Amy Steadman, 64, Sarah Myers, 44, and Harper Harmon, 13; Hudson Harmon, 11; Gavin Harmon, 10, and Gracelynn Harmon, 10 – were all found dead inside Steadman’s Mechanicville apartment on June 23 – with investigators initially saying the evidence “strongly suggests” Steadman was “involved” in their deaths.
But now cops are not ruling out the possibility that Steadman may not have acted alone.
“I do want to make one important point clear. We have not ruled out that Sarah Myers was also complicit in the deaths of her children,” Mechanicville Police Chief William Rabbitt told NBC5 Wednesday, without divulging further.
“You may quote me on that. I understand that statement will raise additional questions, but I will not be able to answer them at this time.”
Cops are still waiting for toxicology results – and Rabbitt said he hoped more details could be shared next week.
There is “still a great deal to be said” in relation to the case, Rabbitt said.
The six bodies of the family members were found last month after a neighbor requested a welfare check.
One of the children was found with a fatal “sharp injury,” while the rest appeared to have been poisoned.
“There is recovered evidence from inside the apartment indicating intentional poisoning — to include numerous prescriptions and over-the-counter medications,” Rabbitt said at the time.
Rabbitt also revealed that a handwritten note was found, and it suggested Steadman was the chief suspect. He did not reveal what the note said.
Myers — Steadman’s daughter — was found dead amid a bitter custody battle with her ex-husband Brady Harmon, who lives in Utah.
He had not seen his children in person since November 2019, but they were supposed to be in the Beehive State between July and September.
He previously told The Post that the last time he spoke with the children was for 15 minutes on June 7.
“They seemed like happy little kids,” he said.
But he had previously expressed concerns about the kids’ welfare, and claimed Steadman didn’t want him to see them, the Times-Union reported.
He headed to New York to speak with investigators – and claimed there was cat urine and feces in Myers’ apartment where the children lived.
He claimed to have received 10 letters from child protective services – including one note which suggested Myers was being investigated for Munchausen syndrome by proxy.
Harmon also claimed a therapist had warned Myers had shown negligence while caring for the kids.
But he didn’t know who reported the children to the authorities.
A funeral for the four children has since been held in Utah, the Times-Union reported.
“We could not bring their bodies home due to the horrific state they were in,” Harmon told the outlet. “Their ashes were spread where my father’s ashes were laid to rest, on top of a mountain here in Utah.”
Harmon said he is comforted to know that the children are reunited with his late father.
“The only thing I can keep, as a peace of mind, is that my kids are safe in the arms of my father and other family members and other family members who loved them and not those who would hurt them.
“I know at least I will eventually see them again.”
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