Mother and Grandmother poison four children before taking their own lives

New details have emerged about the deaths of four children, their mother and their grandmother in Mechanicville, New York. The children were identified as Harper Harmon, 13, Hudson Harmon, 11, and 10-year-old twins Gavin and Gracelynn Harmon. Police found the six family members dead during a welfare check on June 23, 2026. Authorities identified the children's mother, Sarah Myers, 44, and their grandmother, Amy Steadman, 64, as responsible for the children's deaths. Investigators said the two women later took their own lives. A toxicology report obtained by NewsChannel 13 found kratom and diphenhydramine in the systems of all four children. Diphenhydramine is an ingredient used in some allergy medicines. Kratom is a plant-based substance that can produce stimulant or opioid-like effects. Authorities said Harper, Hudson and Gracelynn died from poisoning. Gavin also suffered fatal injuries during the incident. Investigators believe the children died nearly two weeks before police discovered their bodies. The deaths happened shortly before the children were expected to travel to Utah to spend the summer with their father, Brady Harmon. Harmon had not seen them in person since November 2019 and had been involved in a custody dispute with Myers. Investigators found notes in which Myers and Steadman claimed they were trying to protect the children from alleged abuse by their father. Police said they found no evidence supporting those allegations. Harmon also denied them. 'My kids suffered,' Harmon said. 'To poison them and also to stab them, there's a special place in hell for people like that.' The case has been treated as a murder-suicide. Police have continued reviewing the toxicology findings and evidence recovered from the home.