A tragic incident unfolded in Big Horn County, Wyoming, where a mother allegedly shot her four daughters before turning the gun on herself. The mother, identified as 32-year-old Tranyelle Harshman, dialed 911 on Monday afternoon to report the horrifying event. She provided the dispatcher with the location of her daughters in the house before abruptly ending the call.
Upon arrival, law enforcement officers found the girls with gunshot wounds to their heads. Their mother was also discovered with a self-inflicted gunshot wound. The victims included a 9-year-old and two 2-year-old twins. The only survivor was a 7-year-old girl, who is currently in serious condition.
Tranyelle Harshman was found alive at the scene but later succumbed to her injuries. The investigation into the circumstances surrounding the tragic incident is ongoing. However, Cliff Harshman, Tranyelle’s husband, revealed to the Cowboy State Daily that his wife had been battling severe mental health issues, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and postpartum depression.
In an emotional interview, Cliff Harshman defended his wife, stating, “My wife is not a monster. 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.” He is the biological father of the two youngest victims and had been helping raise the older two.
The surviving 7-year-old girl is currently fighting for her life in a Salt Lake City hospital. In response to the tragedy, friends of the family have initiated a Kickstarter fundraiser to help cover her medical expenses. The fundraiser’s page describes Cliff Harshman as a “devoted husband and father of four beautiful daughters” who has suffered an “unimaginable loss.”