BALLSTON SPA, N.Y. (WNYT) — Saratoga County District Attorney Brett Eby said a new child safety commission will review failures and recommend changes after two recent child deaths.
Eby announced the Saratoga County Child Safety Review Commission in a press release on Tuesday, after the deaths of young children in Mechanicville and Corinth. The independent group will review systemic issues that put children at risk and look for gaps in communication, services and current practices.
The commission will include professionals from law enforcement, child protective services, medical and mental health providers, educators, prosecutors, victim advocates, family court and other fields. According to Eby, the group will develop recommendations to improve child safety across Saratoga County.
“Every child deserves to grow up safe,” Eby said. “The recent tragedies in Mechanicville and Corinth have shaken our entire community. While criminal prosecutions are an important part of seeking justice, they cannot be the end of our response. We have an obligation to ask difficult questions, identify where improvements can be made, and work together to prevent another family from experiencing this unimaginable loss. ”
Samantha and Matthew Dylewski were recently sentencing to up to 4 years in prison for causing their 3-year-old daughter Joycelynn to die from acute and chronic neglect.
Last week, four children and two adults were found dead in a home in Mechanicville – Amy Steadman, 64, her daughter Sarah Myers, 44, and Myers four children; Harper Harmon, 13; Hudson Harmon, 11; Gavin Harmon, 10; and Gracelynn Harmon, 10. Investigators are looking into the role of the grandmother in the deaths.
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Eby said the commission will focus on reforms and best practices, including stronger agency collaboration, more training, earlier intervention and possible local and state policy changes. The District Attorney’s Office plans to invite participants in the coming weeks and expects the first meeting later this summer.
“Our goal is simple,” Eby continued. “Bring together the best minds from every relevant discipline and focus on our mission of protecting children. If we can identify even one change that saves one child’s life, this effort will have been worthwhile.”
Anyone interested in serving can send a resume and other relevant information to DA@saratogacountyny.gov. Eby expects to announce the commission’s members by August 2026 and said the group will later issue recommendations to local agencies, community partners and state policymakers.
“The loss of a child affects an entire community,” Eby said. “We owe it to these children and every child in Saratoga County to learn everything we can, improve where we must, and never stop working to make our community safer.”
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