The husband of a Wyoming mother who tragically took the lives of their three daughters before ending her own has spoken out.
Authorities reported that on the afternoon of Monday, February 10, the woman called 911 to report that her four daughters had been shot, according to the local sheriff’s office.
When officers arrived at the scene, their investigation identified 32-year-old Tranyelle Harshman as the shooter before she turned the gun on herself.
During the 911 call, she provided the dispatcher with the locations of her daughters inside the house, leading officers to discover their bodies, all with gunshot wounds to the head.
Tragically, only the 7-year-old daughter survived the horrific incident, while her three sisters, ages 9 and two 2-year-olds, were found dead at the scene, according to MTN News.
Harshman was discovered alive but later succumbed to her injuries.
As the investigation continues into the tragic events of that day, Cliff Harshman, the grieving husband and father, shared heartbreaking details with Cowboy State Daily.
He revealed that his wife had been undergoing treatment for severe mental health issues, including PTSD and postpartum depression, in the time leading up to the incident.
“My wife is not a monster,” he said. “Most people don’t understand how that affects the brain. It’s a chemical imbalance … And it can be exacerbated by trying to fix it with medication.”
Cliff expressed his shock, emphasizing that the tragedy was completely unexpected. “This is so out of character. It’s unbelievable what had happened. We’d been getting her help, and along the way, something didn’t work.”
Despite the unimaginable loss, he said that, even after everything, he still loves her.
“As angry as I may be with her, I still love her, and I still lost her as well,” Cliff said.
Cliff is the father of the two youngest children, while Quinn Blackmer is the father of the two oldest. Despite their differences following Tranyelle’s divorce, the tragedy has brought them together in shared grief.
“I was thankful for (Blackmer),” Cliff admitted.
Blackmer, who lost one daughter and now has another fighting for her life, has expressed similar feelings in the wake of the heartbreaking events.
At the time of the murders, Cliff was out of state for work and rushed home upon hearing the devastating news.
As he navigates this unimaginable loss, he has been overwhelmed by the kindness of those around him. The hotel where he is staying has refused payment, and strangers have donated clothes after he left his belongings in California.
“My support system is almost sickening to me because I hate accepting gifts,” he shared. “I’m so thankful for the community that I have.”
Two GoFundMe campaigns have been set up, one by Cliff’s coworker to support him, and another by a woman raising funds for Olivia’s medical expenses.
Now, Cliff’s focus is on being with his surviving daughter in Salt Lake City. “I can only assume this is going to be a long recovery for Olivia,” he said. “Whether it’s just in the hospital or mentally.”
