A heartbreaking tragedy unfolded in Byron, Wyoming, as 32-year-old Tranyelle Harshman reportedly shot her four young daughters before turning the gun on herself. Three of the children died, while her 7-year-old daughter remains in critical condition after undergoing emergency surgery.
Horrific Details of the Murder-Suicide
According to Big Horn County Sheriff’s Office, the tragic events took place on Monday, February 10, 2025. Harshman called 911 around 1:30 p.m., reporting that her daughters had been shot and expressing fear that they were already dead.
Before disconnecting the call, Harshman told dispatchers:
- Two of her daughters were in their cribs upstairs.
- Two were in the downstairs bedroom they shared.
- She was in her own bedroom upstairs, where she planned to take her own life.
Despite desperate pleas from the dispatcher to stay on the line, Harshman ended the call before officers arrived.
Police Response and Fatalities
Authorities rushed to the scene but arrived too late:
- Two children—ages 9 and 2—were pronounced dead on-site.
- A second 2-year-old succumbed to her injuries shortly after.
- Harshman and her 7-year-old daughter, Olivia, were found alive.
Emergency responders rushed both survivors to North Big Horn Hospital, where Harshman died the next day (Tuesday, February 11). Olivia was airlifted to a hospital in Salt Lake City, where she remains in critical condition.
A Father’s Grief and a Community in Mourning
Olivia and her 9-year-old sister, Brailey, were from Harshman’s previous relationship with Quinn Blackmer, who is now mourning the loss of one daughter and praying for Olivia’s survival.
- “I need the world praying for my baby,” Blackmer told Cowboy State Daily.
- “I need her to pull through. I don’t have my [older] daughter anymore, and this is all I have left.”
Olivia is described as a “sassy redhead” and a fighter, with family and friends clinging to hope for her recovery.
A GoFundMe has been set up to help Blackmer with medical expenses and Olivia’s ongoing treatment.
Why Did This Happen? The Ongoing Investigation
Authorities are still piecing together what led to this horrific act.
- Family and friends say Harshman struggled with mental health issues.
- Her ex-husband, Blackmer, had been fighting for full custody of Brailey and Olivia.
- A friend suspected she was suffering from postpartum depression.
Briana Baker, a longtime friend, said:
“You never know what someone is struggling with inside their mind. Tranyelle was not the monster this tragedy makes her seem to be. Her children were her main focus in life.”
Meanwhile, Harshman’s husband, Cliff Harshman, is now dealing with the unimaginable loss of his wife and two of their children.
A separate GoFundMe page has been created to help him with funeral expenses.
Key Takeaways from the Wyoming Tragedy
- A mother of four allegedly shot all of her daughters, killing three, before taking her own life.
- The only survivor, Olivia, is in critical condition after surgery.
- Mental health struggles, postpartum depression, and a custody battle may have contributed to the tragedy.
- Two GoFundMe campaigns have been launched—one for Olivia’s recovery and another for funeral expenses.
