Investigators said a handwritten note and medications were found inside the Harris Avenue apartment.
MECHANICVILLE, N.Y. — Police said a 64-year-old grandmother is suspected in the deaths of her daughter and four grandchildren after six family members were found dead Tuesday inside an apartment in this small city north of Albany.
Mechanicville Police Chief William Rabbitt said Thursday that evidence points to intentional poisoning inside the Harris Avenue apartment where officers found the bodies. The dead were identified as Amy Steadman, 64; her daughter, Sarah Myers, 44; and Myers’ children, Harper Harmon, 13, Hudson Harmon, 11, Gavin Harmon, 10, and Gracelynn Harmon, 10.
Officers went to the apartment for a welfare check after neighbors reported they had not seen the family for several days. Rabbitt said investigators found numerous prescription and over-the-counter medications in the home, along with a handwritten note. “Evidence recovered during the investigation, including a handwritten note and other circumstantial evidence, strongly suggests that Amy Steadman was involved in the deaths,” Rabbitt said.
The chief said there was no evidence that anyone outside the family was involved. Police have not released a motive, and toxicology tests remain pending. Rabbitt also said one of the children suffered fatal sharp-force injuries, though he declined to release more details because the investigation is continuing.
Myers and her children lived in the same apartment complex as Steadman, police said. The bodies were found in Steadman’s apartment. Authorities said the condition of the bodies showed they had been inside for some time before officers arrived. Autopsies have been completed, but final causes of death depend on toxicology and other forensic testing.
The children’s father lives in Utah, Rabbitt said. Reports from local outlets said he had been seeking custody and expected the children to visit him this summer. Police have not said whether any custody dispute is part of the investigation, and Rabbitt said investigators are still reviewing evidence and records.
Mechanicville, a Saratoga County city about 18 miles north of Albany, was shaken by the discovery. Police remained at the Harris Avenue property as investigators processed the scene and spoke with people who knew the family. Officials said there was no known threat to the public.
The investigation remained open Saturday as police awaited toxicology results and continued reviewing evidence from the apartment. No charges can be filed against Steadman because she is dead.
Author note: Last updated June 27, 2026.