Father of Four Children Expresses Profound Grief After Toxicology Report Details How They Died in Upstate New York Tragedy

  • September 22, 2026

Three months after the deaths of his four children in a devastating case in Mechanicville, New York, Brady Harmon has publicly shared his reaction to newly released toxicology findings. He described the results as deeply sickening and said he could never comprehend how the two adults responsible could inflict such harm on the children they claimed to love and care for.

The children — Harper Harmon, 13; Hudson Harmon, 11; and 10-year-old twins Gavin and Gracelynn Harmon — were found ᴅᴇᴀᴅ in June 2026 inside the apartment of their maternal grandmother, Amy Steadman, 64. Also deceased at the scene were Steadman and the children’s mother, Sarah Myers, 44. Authorities concluded the deaths consтιтuted a murder-suicide. The bodies were discovered on June 23 after a concerned neighbor contacted police for a welfare check, noting that the family had not been seen for several days. Investigators determined the deaths most likely occurred around June 10.

According to the Mechanicville Police Department, toxicology testing revealed that diphenhydramine — the active ingredient found in common over-the-counter allergy medications such as Benadryl — was present at fatal or lethal levels in all six individuals. Mitragynine, the primary active compound in kratom (a plant-derived substance with opioid-like effects that is often sold at convenience stores and gas stations), was detected in four of the six.

In a statement posted on social media after the official findings were released, Harmon wrote that the pain remained as intense as if the tragedy had occurred only the day before. Reading the toxicology report, he said, made the reality of what was done to his children even more unbearable. He emphasized that Harper, Hudson, Gavin, and Gracelynn were innocent and had deserved to feel safe, to grow up, to pursue their dreams, celebrate birthdays, reach life milestones, and live the full lives that were taken from them. He added that he continues to miss them every moment and remains committed to speaking their names so that their lives and the circumstances of their deaths are never forgotten.

Harmon, who resides in Utah, had been locked in a lengthy custody dispute with Myers. He had not seen his children in person since 2019. At the time of their deaths, he was preparing for their scheduled summer visitation, which would have marked the first extended period he would spend with them in years. He has previously stated that those responsible for the children’s deaths deserve severe judgment.

Beyond his public expressions of grief, Harmon has taken formal legal action. He has filed a notice of intent to sue multiple local enтιтies — including the City of Mechanicville, Saratoga County, the Ballston Spa Central School District, the Mechanicville City School District, and the Mechanicville Housing Authority — seeking damages of up to $400 million. In the 17-page filing, he alleges that authorities failed to intervene despite years of warning signs of harm to the children. The notice claims that Myers and Steadman regularly administered substances to the children in a pattern consistent with a serious form of caretaker-fabricated or induced illness, and that the same types of substances later identified in the toxicology report had been used over an extended period.

Police have stated that evidence recovered at the scene, including a handwritten note, strongly indicated Steadman’s involvement in the deaths. No other individuals are suspected. The case continues to draw attention as the father pursues both accountability through the courts and public remembrance of his children’s lives.

Sources : New York Post