In a heartbreaking revelation that has deepened the tragedy of an already unimaginable case, the father of four children slain in an upstate New York murder-suicide has released screenshots of his final text exchange with their mother. On the afternoon of June 10, 2026 — the same day authorities say the killings occurred — Sarah Myers texted her ex-husband, Brady Harmon, that the children had “a little stomach bug” and asked to postpone a scheduled video call.

“The kids have gotten a little stomach bug throwing up is it okay to switch your online visit to tomorrow night at 4 pm your time please,” the message read. Harmon, who lives more than 2,000 miles away in Utah, replied innocently: “Okay I will keep painting then. Hopefully they feel better soon.” He had no idea that, at that moment, three of his children were dying in a suspected mass poisoning and the fourth was being stabbed to death inside a Mechanicville apartment.

The next day, Harmon texted again: “Are the kiddos feeling better?” His 4:02 p.m. video call went unanswered. By then, Myers, 44; her mother, Amy Steadman, 64; and the four children — Harper Harmon, 13; Hudson Harmon, 11; and 10-year-old twins Gavin and Gracelynn Harmon — were all dead. Their badly decomposed bodies were not discovered until June 23, after a neighbor requested a welfare check.

Mechanicville Police Chief Bill Rabbitt confirmed this week that Myers and Steadman “conspired in carrying out the murders of the four children before taking their own lives.” Planning began no later than June 5. Text messages between the mother and daughter detailed the acquisition of medications, the location of the killings, how the drugs would be administered, how the children would be gathered, what they would be told, and how to avoid suspicion.

Steadman had visited multiple pharmacies to obtain over-the-counter sleep aids and her own prescribed medications. In one exchange, Myers instructed her mother to administer the drugs between 10:30 a.m. and noon so the act would be finished before a scheduled 6 p.m. call with Harmon. When the children did not respond as expected, one of the women wrote: “It’s not working, we need another option.”

A message recovered from Gracelynn’s device began: “Why would you do that? You both won’t let me puke,” before she described increasing stomach pain. Later that evening, Steadman sent a final chilling text: “Gracie is aware.” One of the children, believed to be Gavin, was repeatedly stabbed after apparently trying to defend himself. Investigators also found evidence of intentional poisoning, including numerous prescriptions, over-the-counter medications, and syringes.

While the adults planned the murders, Myers continued sending Harmon reassuring messages about the children’s upcoming two-month summer visit to Utah, set to begin July 1. “We are good for summer,” she wrote on June 5. She later asked him to put child support in the account so she could buy the kids sneakers and discussed FaceTime schedules. On June 7, Harmon had a 17-minute video call with the children — the last time he would ever speak with them. “They seemed like happy little kids,” he later recalled.

On June 8, still unaware of the horror unfolding, Harmon sent a detailed message asking about each child’s hobbies and interests so he could plan an enjoyable summer. “Since I have missed a significant amount of time with [the kids], I want to make sure their summer is enjoyable, engaging, and centered around things they genuinely like to do,” he wrote. Myers replied that she would talk to the children about what they wanted to do and was gathering the medical records he had requested.

Handwritten notes found at the scene, including one signed by Steadman, claimed the killings were carried out to “keep them safe from alleged abuse in Utah.” Unsigned writings attributed to Myers expressed anger at the Utah family court system and repeated allegations of abuse against the father and his family. Police could not independently verify any of the claims. Harmon has categorically denied them.

In a lengthy Facebook post accompanying the text screenshots, Harmon wrote: “I cannot understand how anyone could claim that this was done to ‘save’ my children from harm. The greatest possible harm was done to them. They were terrified, betrayed, and robbed of their lives by the very people who were supposed to protect them. My children were not pawns to be sacrificed when control was slipping away. They were four beautiful human beings with personalities, dreams, fears, laughter, and an entire family waiting to love them. I believed I was preparing to welcome my children home.”

Rabbitt was unequivocal: “Amy Steadman and Sarah Myers consistently portrayed these murders as a way of protecting the children. Whatever they believed justified their actions, the deliberate murder of four children cannot be described as protection.” The investigation remains ongoing, with toxicology results still pending. The four children’s deaths have been ruled homicides; the two adults died by suicide.

The case has left a community and a grieving father searching for answers that may never fully come. Harmon, who had not seen his children in person since 2019, had already booked their flights and was preparing activities based on the interests he believed they still shared. Instead of a joyful reunion, he was left with screenshots of ordinary parental coordination that, in retrospect, feel like the final, cruel deception before unspeakable loss.

Main Sources : New York Post