Authorities in upstate New York are investigating the deaths of six family members who were discovered inside an apartment in the city of Mechanicville. Investigators believe the family’s grandmother may have played a role in the tragedy after collecting evidence at the scene, including a handwritten note and other items that raised significant concerns. While officials have not yet reached a final conclusion, they say the investigation remains active as forensic testing continues.

The heartbreaking discovery was made on Tuesday evening at approximately 6:30 p.m. Police officers were called to the John S. Moore Housing Complex after neighbors reported they had not seen the apartment’s resident for several weeks. Concerned about the prolonged absence, they requested that authorities conduct a welfare check.

When officers from the Mechanicville Police Department arrived, they attempted to contact anyone inside the apartment but received no response. After repeated efforts failed, police coordinated with the building’s management to gain lawful entry into the residence. Once inside, officers encountered a devastating scene. Six people were found dead within the apartment, prompting an immediate criminal investigation.

The victims were later identified following autopsies conducted by the medical examiner. They included 64-year-old Amy Steadman, who lived in the apartment where the bodies were discovered. Also among the deceased were her 44-year-old daughter, Sarah Myers, and Myers’ four children: 13-year-old Harper Harmon, 11-year-old Hudson Harmon, and 10-year-old twins Gavin Harmon and Gracelynn Harmon.

According to Police Chief Bill Rabbit, Steadman resided in the apartment, while Myers and her children normally lived in another nearby unit. The exact circumstances that led the entire family to be together at the apartment remain under investigation.

Speaking about the impact of the tragedy, Chief Rabbit emphasized how deeply the incident has affected the local community. He described Mechanicville as a close-knit city where many residents either knew the family personally or could easily relate to the unimaginable loss experienced by their loved ones. The deaths of six members of one family have left neighbors shocked and struggling to comprehend the devastating events.

Investigators have not yet released the official causes of death for all six victims. Authorities explained that final determinations will depend on comprehensive autopsy findings, toxicology reports, and further examinations by the medical examiner’s office. However, officials disclosed one particularly disturbing detail during a news briefing.

According to Chief Rabbit, one of the children sustained fatal injuries caused by a sharp object. Beyond those injuries, investigators also uncovered evidence suggesting that poisoning may have played a significant role in several of the deaths. Police recovered numerous prescription medications along with over-the-counter drugs from the apartment. Initial findings indicate these substances may have been intentionally administered, although laboratory testing is still required before investigators can confirm exactly what occurred.

Another key piece of evidence discovered during the investigation was a handwritten note found inside the residence. While authorities have not publicly revealed the contents of the note, Chief Rabbit stated that it, together with other circumstantial evidence collected at the scene, strongly suggests that Amy Steadman was involved in the deaths of the family members.

Despite those findings, investigators stressed that no final conclusions have been reached. Officials emphasized that accountability cannot be formally determined until every aspect of the investigation has been completed. Toxicology analyses, forensic examinations, and medical reviews remain ongoing, and police say they will rely on the totality of the evidence before officially closing the case.

As investigators continue their work, family members outside New York are mourning an unimaginable loss.

Brady Harmon, the father of the four children, currently lives in Utah. He said he had been eagerly preparing to reunite with his children after years of separation. According to Harmon, the children were scheduled to spend two months with him, from July 1 through September 1. He had looked forward to introducing them to relatives they had not seen for years, while also giving them the opportunity to meet extended family members for the very first time.

Instead of preparing for a joyful reunion, Harmon received devastating news from law enforcement officers informing him that all four of his children had died, along with their mother and grandmother.

Reflecting on that moment, Harmon described the emotional shock as something impossible to prepare for. He said the timing made the tragedy even more painful because he had been only days away from beginning his first extended parenting time with his children in more than six years.

Harmon explained that he and Sarah Myers had separated in November 2019. Since then, maintaining contact with the children had not always been easy. Nevertheless, he had continued looking forward to rebuilding his relationship with them and creating new memories during their planned summer visit.

He recalled that the last communication regarding the children occurred on June 10. A scheduled video call had been canceled by Myers, who reportedly said the children were feeling ill. Harmon accepted the explanation at the time and expected they would speak again later.

Only two weeks afterward, just days following Father’s Day, he received the heartbreaking call informing him that his children were gone.

The investigation has generated widespread attention throughout the community and beyond as authorities work to determine exactly how the deaths occurred. Detectives continue examining physical evidence, interviewing witnesses, reviewing medical records, and analyzing the medications recovered from the apartment. The handwritten note remains one of the central pieces of evidence, although investigators have declined to disclose its specific contents while the inquiry remains active.

Officials continue urging patience as forensic experts complete toxicology testing and medical examinations. They have emphasized that while current evidence strongly points toward one individual’s involvement, every conclusion must be supported by scientific findings and a complete review of all available evidence.

Meanwhile, residents of Mechanicville continue mourning one of the most tragic incidents in the city’s recent history. Community members have expressed grief for the lives lost and sympathy for surviving relatives facing an overwhelming tragedy. As investigators seek answers, the deaths of Amy Steadman, Sarah Myers, Harper Harmon, Hudson Harmon, Gavin Harmon, and Gracelynn Harmon have left an enduring impact on both their family and the close-knit community that knew them.