Dad reveals final text from ex-wife before she allegedly killed their four children

Warning: This article contains discussion of suicide which some readers may find distressing.

After police revealed the messages which proved that a mother had planned the murder of her four children, her ex-husband has now shared the horrifying final texts he revealed from her before his kids were poisoned.

Amy Steadman, 64, and her daughter Sarah Myers, 44, were found dead in a New York apartment in June alongside Harper Harmon, 13, Hudson Harmon, 11, and 10-year-old twins Gavin Harmon and Gracelynn Harmon.

The shocking scene was compounded when police discovered a handwritten note as well as 'numerous prescriptions and over-the-counter medications’, which led police to believe that this was a horrific murder-suicide.

Mechanicville Police Chief Bill Rabbitt said at the time: “Evidence recovered during the investigation, including a handwritten note, and other circumstantial evidence, strongly suggests that Amy Steadman was involved in the deaths.”

In a press conference earlier this week, police suggested that Steadman and Myers had exchanged messages planning the murders on 5 June before carrying them out five days later, and now heartbroken father Brady Harmon has weighed in with his own final messages to the mother of his children, where she talked about them having a 'stomach bug'.

Brady was planning to see his kids for the first time since 2019 (Facebook)

Harmon wrote: "According to information released by the Mechanicville Police Department, messages were being exchanged on June 10 concerning the planned murder of my children.

"I have thought about sharing these final communications for a long time. I am now sharing the messages from May 31 through June 11 because they show what I was being told while I was planning for my children’s summer with me.

"I sent their flight information. I planned activities based on their interests. I requested their medical records, medications, allergies, doctors’ information, and other documents that were required under the parenting plan. I believed I was preparing to welcome my children home."

Tragically, due to a custody battle, Brady had not been with his children in person since 2019 and was due to be with them for the first time in seven years this summer, but he has now had his whole life ripped apart and will never see them again.

The final text he received from his ex-wife said: "The kids have gotten a little stomach bug throwing up is it okay to switch your online visit to tomorrow night at 4pm your time please."

Tributes have been left for the four children (Will Waldron/Albany Times Union via Getty Images)

It now seems clear that this 'stomach bug' was actually the after effects of them being poisoned and his follow-up messages and video calls sadly went unanswered, before police discovered their bodies nearly two weeks later.

Authorities have since confirmed that the deaths have been officially ruled as four homicides and two suicides.

Brady added: "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."

"Sarah Myers instructed Amy Steadman that the medications should be administered between 10.30am and noon so they could be finished before a scheduled telephone call at 6pm with the children’s father,' Chief Rabbitt said at this week's press conference.

Police also confirmed that Myers had searched online for the most fatal place to be stabbed, and it has since emerged that 10-year-old Gavin was 'repeatedly' stabbed to death with a knife.

If you’ve been affected by any of these issues and want to speak to someone in confidence, please don’t suffer alone. Call Samaritans for free on their anonymous 24-hour phone line on 116 123 or contact Harmless by visiting their website https://harmless.org.uk.