Six relatives, including four children, were found dead after a welfare check Tuesday.
MECHANICVILLE, N.Y. — A handwritten note and medications found inside a Mechanicville apartment are central evidence in the suspected poisoning deaths of a grandmother, her daughter and four children, police said Thursday.
Police identified the dead as Amy Steadman, 64; Sarah Myers, 44; Harper Harmon, 13; Hudson Harmon, 11; Gavin Harmon, 10; and Gracelynn Harmon, 10. Mechanicville Police Chief William Rabbitt said investigators believe Steadman may have been involved in the deaths of the others before she also died.
The bodies were discovered Tuesday evening during a welfare check at Steadman’s Harris Avenue apartment. Neighbors had contacted authorities after not seeing the family for days. Rabbitt said officers found evidence of intentional poisoning, including numerous prescription and over-the-counter medications. He said the note and other evidence “strongly” pointed to Steadman, but he stopped short of announcing a final finding.
Police said Myers and her four children lived in the same apartment complex, but not in Steadman’s unit. Investigators said the family appeared to have been dead for an extended period before officers entered the apartment. Authorities have not released the exact date of death for any of the six victims.
Rabbitt said toxicology testing is still underway. He also said one child had fatal sharp-force injuries, adding another layer to the investigation. Police have not identified which child suffered those injuries. The chief said there is no evidence that an outside person entered the home or took part in the deaths.
The case has drawn attention because four of the victims were children and because the family had ties outside New York. The children’s father lives in Utah, police said. Local reports said he had been expecting to see the children soon, but police have not named a motive or said whether family court records are part of the evidence under review.
Mechanicville is a small city in Saratoga County, about 18 miles north of Albany. The deaths brought a heavy police presence to Harris Avenue, where investigators worked around the apartment building and neighbors gathered nearby. Officials said the case appeared contained to the family and that there was no continuing public danger.
Police said the next major step is completion of toxicology and forensic testing. Investigators also are reviewing the handwritten note, medications and witness statements as they work to determine the full timeline.
Author note: Last updated June 27, 2026.