A NEIGHBOR who called police after noticing a disturbing smell coming from her friend’s apartment has revealed the chilling moments that led to the discovery of a family of six ᴅᴇᴀᴅ.

Sarah Myers, 44, her four children, and her mother, Amy Steadman, 64, were found ᴅᴇᴀᴅ inside Steadman’s apartment in Upstate New York on Tuesday.

 

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Stephanie Sweeney, who regularly spoke with the family, said she became concerned after she had not heard from them for nearly two weeks.

Sweeney said she initially thought something simple had happened and that the family may have just been away, but her fears grew when she noticed a foul odor coming from the apartment in Mechanicville, north of Albany.

“I noticed the smell of death,” Sweeney told ABC affiliate WTEN.

She said she then saw flies gathering around the windows and air conditioner, prompting her to call police for a welfare check at around 6:20pm on Tuesday.

“I knew immediately, so I just called, I had to,” she said.

“I thought I just did something wrong, and they [the family] weren’t talking to me.”

The discovery has left neighbors devastated, with Sweeney describing the family as “wonderful” people and saying the children were “beautiful, fantastic, loving, caring.”

“Amy was one of my best friends,” she said through her tears.

“Her grandchildren called me ‘Nana,’ so that’s hitting even harder.”

Sweeney shared fond memories with each of the family members.

She said the oldest child, Harper, was, “smart as a whip,” and Hudson was always trying to make people laugh.

The twins were adorable; she said Gavin followed her everywhere and Gracelynn always greeted her with a big hug.

She also told the outlet that people shouldn’t come to their own conclusions about what happened.

“Enough with the slander. If you don’t know, then please just keep your mouth shut,” she said. “They were great people, they don’t deserve that.”

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Another neighbor, Nicholas Gilbault, also told the outlet that the sounds of the children playing had always been a familiar part of the building.

“The walls around here are very thin. You would always be hearing them playing around doing stuff like that, making noise being kids,” he said.

“That’s what kind of makes it so sad. Them being involved.”

Police confirmed they found Myers, her mother, and her children – 13-year-old Harper, 11-year-old Hudson, and 10-year-old twins Gavin and Gracelynn.

They are now investigating the deaths as a criminal case, and say evidence points toward a suspected mᴀss poisoning involving Steadman.

Investigators found a handwritten note at the apartment and evidence of prescription and over-the-counter medications.

Mechanicville Police Chief William Rabbitt said Thursday during a press conference that final conclusions will depend on toxicology results and the rest of the investigation.

Police also said one child suffered “fatal sharp-force injuries,” while the other deaths appeared consistent with poisoning.

Authorities said there is currently no evidence of a threat to the public and the investigation remains ongoing.

Friends and relatives described the family’s situation as increasingly strained amid a high-conflict custody battle between Myers and her ex-husband, Brady Harmon.

Myers previously voiced frustration on Facebook and alleged domestic abuse, while no arrest records for Harmon were found in public records reviewed by The U.S. Sun.

Court filings show Harmon filed for divorce in 2020, with the case finalized in April 2026.

The decree granted joint legal custody of the couple’s children, with Myers awarded sole physical custody, and ordered Harmon to pay $500 per week in child support.

Harmon, who has complained to media outlets that he hadn’t seen his kids since 2019, was also granted summer parenting time with the children from July 1 to September 1.

He filed a motion to enforce the order, and Myers was due in court on June 29, 2026, for potential contempt proceedings – just days before she and her family were discovered.