Father Speaks Publicly After Four Children Found Dead Days Before Planned Reunion

The father of four children who were found dead alongside their mother and grandmother in an Upstate New York apartment has shared his grief for the first time, revealing that he had been preparing to reunite with his children only days before the tragic discovery.

Brady Harmon said he was expecting to welcome his children to his home under a recently approved custody arrangement after years of separation. Instead, he learned from police officers that all four children had died, along with their mother, Sarah Myers, and their grandmother, Amy Steadman.

The heartbreaking case continues to be investigated by authorities, who say several important questions remain unanswered as forensic testing and toxicology examinations continue.

According to investigators, 64-year-old Amy Steadman, 44-year-old Sarah Myers, and Myers’ four children were discovered Tuesday evening inside Steadman’s apartment in Mechanicville, New York, following a welfare check requested by concerned neighbors.

Although Myers lived in another apartment within the same residential complex, police said all six victims were located inside Steadman’s residence.

Authorities later identified the children as 13-year-old Harper Harmon, 11-year-old Hudson Harmon, and 10-year-old twins Gavin and Gracelynn Harmon.

Police were called to the apartment after neighbors reported they had not seen the family for several days and had become increasingly concerned.

For Harmon, the devastating news arrived more than 2,000 miles away at his home in Utah.

He recalled officers arriving unexpectedly at his door on Tuesday to inform him that his children had been found dead.

Speaking publicly afterward, Harmon described the emotional shock of seeing his hopes for a long-awaited reunion disappear in an instant.

“I went from thinking I was finally going to see my children to realizing I would never see them again,” he said.

He explained that after years of legal disputes and limited contact, he had recently secured parenting time through the courts.

Under the custody agreement, his children were scheduled to spend the summer with him in Utah from July 1 through September 1.

That visit would have marked their first extended time together in several years.

According to Harmon, he had not seen his children in person since 2019.

Although he was occasionally able to communicate with them through FaceTime, he said those conversations were infrequent and depended largely on permission being granted.

He described the upcoming summer visit as an opportunity to rebuild the relationship he believed had been interrupted for years.

Instead, he is now making plans to bury his children.

Through tears, Harmon said he intends to hold their funerals in Utah.

He explained that he wants his children laid to rest far from New York, where the tragedy occurred.

The investigation remains active, and police have released only limited details regarding the circumstances surrounding the deaths.

Harmon said officers who informed him of his children’s deaths did not provide specific information about how they had died.

When asked whether he had any idea who might have been responsible, he responded simply that he did not know.

Authorities have continued to classify the case as a criminal investigation while awaiting the results of autopsies and toxicology testing.

Investigators have emphasized that no final conclusions have yet been reached.

During a news conference, Mechanicville Police Chief Bill Rabbitt explained that evidence recovered inside the apartment included a handwritten note that investigators believe may be significant to understanding the events that unfolded.

He also confirmed that one child suffered fatal injuries caused by a sharp object.

Preliminary findings further indicated that several of the remaining deaths appeared consistent with possible poisoning, although officials stressed that toxicology reports will be required before determining official causes of death.

Investigators additionally recovered prescription medications and over-the-counter medicines from inside the residence.

According to Rabbitt, evidence collected at the scene has led detectives to examine the possibility of intentional poisoning.

Police have not publicly released further details while the investigation remains ongoing.

Authorities also noted that the victims had likely remained inside the apartment for an extended period before they were discovered, though investigators have not specified exactly how long.

Officials continue to maintain that there is no evidence of an ongoing threat to the public.

Harmon also spoke about the lengthy custody dispute that preceded the tragedy.

He said he had pursued legal action because he wanted a more active role in his children’s lives.

According to Harmon, communication with his children had become increasingly limited over the years.

He alleged that Sarah Myers allowed only occasional video calls and that he sought court intervention in hopes of establishing regular parenting time.

He further claimed that Myers had previously been the subject of a Child Protective Services investigation in New York, although authorities have not commented publicly regarding those claims.

Court records show that custody proceedings had continued for several years before an agreement was finalized earlier this year.

The approved arrangement granted Harmon scheduled parenting time beginning just days after the family was ultimately found dead.

Neighbors described Myers and her mother as being extremely close.

Several residents said Amy Steadman was a constant presence in her daughter’s daily life.

Megan Reed, who has lived in the apartment complex for more than a decade, said Steadman regularly helped care for Myers and her grandchildren.

According to Reed, the grandmother was with the family almost every day.

Another neighbor, Stephanie Sweeney, was the person who contacted emergency services after becoming concerned about the family’s absence.

Sweeney explained that she had not spoken with them in nearly two weeks, something she considered highly unusual.

Her concern intensified after she noticed a strong odor coming from the apartment.

She also observed flies gathering around the windows and air-conditioning unit.

Believing something was seriously wrong, she called 911 and requested a welfare check.

Later speaking through tears, Sweeney described Amy Steadman as one of her closest friends.

She said the children affectionately called her “Nana,” making the loss particularly devastating.

As investigators continue gathering evidence, relatives have urged the public to avoid speculation regarding the circumstances of the case.

Members of the extended family say they are grieving while also waiting for investigators to establish exactly what happened.

Sarah Myers’ cousin, Cazlynn Ross, appealed for patience while authorities complete their work.

Ross described Myers as a caring mother and said the family is struggling to understand the tragedy.

She acknowledged that Myers had been involved in a custody dispute but emphasized that many questions remain unanswered.

According to Ross, people should avoid assigning blame before investigators release their findings.

She said the family has already experienced an unimaginable loss and that online speculation has only added to their pain.

The deaths of six family members have shocked the Mechanicville community and drawn widespread public attention.

Investigators continue reviewing physical evidence, forensic findings, witness statements, electronic records, and toxicology results as they work to reconstruct the family’s final days.

Officials have indicated that additional information may be released once medical examinations are complete and investigators have a clearer understanding of the circumstances surrounding the deaths.

For now, the case remains unresolved, with authorities emphasizing that the investigation is ongoing and that no final conclusions should be drawn until all evidence has been carefully examined.