By Guy Page

Police investigating the deaths of six family members found inside a Mechanicville, NY apartment say evidence suggests the killings were carried out by one of the victims, although investigators are awaiting final autopsy and toxicology results before reaching a definitive conclusion.

One of the children died by blunt force. Initial investigations indicate the other victims all died as a result of intentional poisoning, Police Chief William Rabbit said in a Thursday, June 25 press conference. 

Police said officers were dispatched at about 6:20 p.m. Tuesday, June 23, to an apartment in a subsidized housing development for a welfare check after neighbors reported they had not seen resident Amy Steadman for several days and had become concerned. Officers were unable to contact anyone inside and obtained access to the apartment, where they discovered six bodies.

The victims are identified as Amy Steadman, 64; Sarah Myers, 44; and Myers’ four children: Parker Harmon, 13; Hudson Harmon, 11; and two younger children, ages 10 and 7. Steedman was Myers’ mother and the children’s grandmother. Myers and her children lived at another residence elsewhere in the state. Rabbit would not confirm reporters’ questions that there had been a custody battle won recently by the children’s father.

Because of the scale of the case, the Mechanicville Police Department requested assistance from the New York State Police Major Crimes Unit, Bureau of Criminal Investigation and Forensic Investigation Unit. Investigators worked through the night and into Wednesday processing the scene.

Autopsies conducted Wednesday determined that one of the children died from blunt-force injuries. The causes and manners of death for all six victims remain pending while investigators await toxicology testing and other forensic results.

Chief Rabbit said investigators recovered evidence inside the apartment indicating intentional poisoning, including numerous prescription and over-the-counter medications.

Police also recovered a handwritten note and other circumstantial evidence that “strongly suggest” Steadman was involved in the deaths, Rabbit said. However, he emphasized that investigators will not make a final determination regarding responsibility until all physical evidence, toxicology results and forensic examinations have been completed.

“Based on the evidence collected today, including evidence recovered from inside the residence, investigators believe these deaths occurred entirely within the apartment and found no evidence indicating involvement by any outside individual,” Rabbit said.

The investigation remains active. Police said they are continuing to analyze evidence and have not yet released a timeline for when the deaths occurred.