Mom-of-four brutally executes her three young daughters before shooting herself as one child fights for her life
A Wyoming mother-of-four murdered her three young daughters before turning the gun on herself, leaving one of her daughters fighting for her life in intensive care.
Tranyelle Harshman, 32, shot the four children, ages 2, 2, 7 and 9, before turning the gun on herself, according to Big Horn County Sheriff’s Office.
The shootings are said to have taken place on Monday in their home in Byron.
Harshman was rushed to a nearby hospital alongside her 7-year-old daughter, Olivia, with Harshman dying from her self-inflicted injuries, local police said.
Harshman’s sister Savannah Rose confirmed to KTVQ that her sister had shot her daughters and that Olivia is currently being treated and is responding to touch.
According to the sheriff’s office, authorities had been called to the residence to reports of gunshots inside a home.
The call had been made by a woman who told officers ‘her daughters had been shot’ and said she believed her children to be dead.
A 911 dispatcher was told that the girls were located in their cribs and that two of them were downstairs in their bedroom.
Tranyelle Harshman, 32, shot the four children, ages 2, 2, 7 and 9, before turning the gun on herself, according to Big Horn County Sheriff’s Office
The shootings are said to have taken place on Monday inside their home in their home in Byron, with Harshman also shooting herself
The woman also told the dispatcher that she could be found in her upstairs bedroom, and that she was planning to shoot herself.
‘The dispatcher pleaded with the female caller over the phone for the female caller to remain on the line until responding suits arrived,’ their press release added.
‘The female caller stated multiple times that she could not do that and that it was too late. Multiple attempts to keep her on the line failed and the call was disconnected.’
Officers arrived on the scene minutes later to find two of the young girls, a 2-year-old and the 9-year-old – named in a fundraiser as Brailey – dead with gunshot wounds to their heads.
They located the two other children, the 2-year-old and Olivia, who also had gunshot wounds to the head but were still alive.
Harshman was found in her bedroom with a gunshot wound to the head but was alive when cops moved in.
A short while after locating the surviving children, the 2-year-old died from her injuries.
Friends who knew Harshman also told the outlet that she had struggled with mental health problems, which included post-partum depression.
A 911 dispatcher was told that the girls were located in their cribs and that two of them were downstairs in their bedroom
Officers arrived on the scene minutes later and entered to find two of the young girls, ages 2 and 9, dead with gunshot wounds to their heads
Briana Baker told the outlet: ‘You never know what someone is struggling with inside of their mind. Tranyelle was not the monster this tragedy makes her seem to be.
‘Her loved ones don’t want her to be remembered for her darkest moments. She was sweet, loving, and funny. Her children were her main focus in life.’
Former classmate Sage Miears added: ‘If she was really battling postpartum depression, that’s a serious thing. People needed to be there for her.’
Byron Mayor Allen Clark added: ‘When you’re in a small community like this, you know, everyone rubs shoulders with everyone.
‘It’s just devastating. I just hope and pray that the family can endure and hopefully brighter days ahead.’
Harshman shares two children with husband Cliff Harshman, the father of the two younger girls, and the two older kids with Quinn Blackmer, her ex-husband.
A GoFundMe has since been set up to help widowed husband and father Cliff Harshman, which as of Wednesday had raised more than $70,000.
A GoFundMe has since been set up to help widowed husband and father Cliff Harshman, seen here with two of the children, which as of Wednesday had raised more than $70,000
A separate GoFundMe has also been set up for Blackmer, seen here, which has so far raised over $34,000
A post to the fundraiser says: ‘Tragedy has struck, leaving us shattered and heartbroken.
‘Cliff Harshman, a devoted husband and father of four beautiful daughters, has suffered an unimaginable loss: the passing of 3 of his precious girls. 1 still fighting in salt lake, please pray for her.
‘This devastating event has left Cliff and his loved ones reeling in grief, struggling to come to terms with the immense void left in their lives.
‘The financial burden of funeral expenses, ongoing family support, and other related costs only adds to their pain.’
Speaking with Cowboy State Daily, Blackmer told the outlet: ‘I need the world praying for my baby [Olivia], I need her to pull through. I don’t have my (older) daughter [Brailey] anymore and this is all I have left.’
A separate GoFundMe has also been set up for Blackmer, which has so far raised more than $34,000.
The fundraiser says: ‘Olivia has suffered severe traumatic brain injury and is fighting hard for her life! She is in critical condition; the next few days will be crucial for her outcome.
‘We know Brailey is watching over her baby sister from the other side, helping her fight for her life!’
