Four Siblings Killed by Mother, Grandmother in Upstate New York Before Planned Reunion With Father

Four young siblings in Mechanicville, upstate New York, were killed by their mother and grandmother in a case that has left extended family and investigators grappling with the scale of the tragedy.

The victims were identified as Harper Harmon, 13; Hudson Harmon, 11; and 10-year-old twins Gavin and Gracelynn Harmon.

The children's mother, Sarah Myers, 44, and grandmother, Amy Steadman, 64, were identified by police as responsible for the killings before taking their own lives.

In total, six bodies were discovered during a welfare check on June 23, nearly two weeks after investigators believe the children were killed.

According to a toxicology report cited by NewsChannel 13, kratom and diphenhydramine, the active ingredient in Benadryl, were found in all four children's systems.

Authorities said Harper, Hudson and Gracelynn died after being poisoned, while Gavin was stabbed as he apparently tried to defend himself.

The killings occurred shortly before the children were due to spend the summer with their father, Brady Harmon, in Utah.

Harmon had not seen his children in person since 2019 and had been engaged in a bitter custody dispute with Myers.

Investigators said Myers and Steadman left notes claiming the killings were meant to protect the children from alleged abuse by their father.

Police said they found no evidence to support those allegations, which Harmon has strongly denied.