A devastating incident in Mechanicsville, upstate New York, has left four siblings dead after authorities said their mother and grandmother killed the children before taking their own lives.
The victims were identified as 13-year-old Harper Harmon, 11-year-old Hudson Harmon, and 10-year-old twins Gracelynn and Gavin Harmon.
According to a toxicology report cited by NewsChannel 13, the children had kratom and diphenhydramine, the active ingredient in Benadryl, in their systems before their deaths.
Authorities said Harper, Hudson and Gracelynn died after being poisoned, while Gavin was fatally stabbed as he reportedly attempted to defend himself.
The children’s mother, 44-year-old Sarah Myers, and their 64-year-old grandmother, Amy Steadman, were identified by authorities as responsible for the killings. The two women subsequently died by suicide.
The tragedy occurred shortly before the children were due to spend the summer with their father, Brady Harmon, in Utah. Harmon reportedly had not seen his children in person since November 2019 and had been involved in a prolonged custody dispute with Myers.
Following the deaths, authorities reportedly discovered a letter in which Myers accused Harmon of abusing her and the children. She allegedly claimed that the killings were carried out as a means of protecting them.
Harmon denied the allegations and strongly condemned the deaths, saying his children had endured a tragic and devastating ordeal.
My The incident has prompted renewed attention to the family’s lengthy custody dispute and the circumstances surrounding the deaths, while authorities continue to examine the events that led to the tragedy.
