MECHANICVILLE, N.Y. (WRGB) — The custody agreement between the father and mother of four kids who were found dead with their grandmother and mother in Mechanicville was a fairly standard arrangement, according to a local attorney who looked at the documents. Sarah Myers shouldn’t have been surprised by anything in the document, since she agreed to the terms, said Michael Belsky, an attorney with the Tully Rinckey law firm.
Sarah Myers and Brady Harmon married in Utah in 2015. Their divorce was filed in the state in 2020, so the entire proceeding is covered under Utah law.
Utah has jurisdiction over the children,” Belsky said. “New York state didn’t have any jurisdiction over the children whatsoever.”
That child custody agreement shows Harmon was supposed to have the kids for two months in the summer, on holidays, and ready access to the kids via phone. Belsky said none of this should have been a surprise to Myers.
“The mother stipulated and agreed to all of these terms and conditions, including that the father should see the child during the summertime,” he said. “So this is not something that all of a sudden that was thrown at her.”
Belsky said the custody agreement appears standard.
“For parties that live in different states, this type of a schedule is pretty much very common,” he said.
Belsky has been a divorce attorney for 30 years and said a small number of his cases turn heated.
“They get highly contentious and nasty when one of the parents determines and decides that they’re going to use that child as a pawn to hurt the other party,” Belsky said.
“Does that anger me when I see that happen? Most definitely.”
