Wyoming
Father of 4 kids shot by Wyoming mom in murder-suicide is ‘so angry’ — and ‘a mess’ that depression drove her to such horrors
The father and stepfather of the four little girls shot by their mom before she turned the gun on herself says he is “so angry” — but also “a mess” because she was a loving, “incredible mom” destroyed by mental illness.
Cliff Harshman lost his 2-year-old daughters, Brooke and Jordan, and 9-year-old stepdaughter Brailey in the bloodbath Monday, while his other stepdaughter Olivia, 7, is still fighting for her life.
His wife Tranyelle Harshman, 32, shot all four of her kids at their home in Byron, Wyoming — then turned the gun on herself after calling 911.
The grieving husband and dad told KTVQ the overwhelming loss was “something beyond what I can comprehend.”
“I’m a mess,” he said in a phone interview. “I’m so angry. I don’t even know how to explain this to you. I’m so angry with her for the decision that was made,” he said.
But much of that anger was directed at the mental health issues he believes drove his wife to such horrors, similar to other cases, such as Lindsay Clancy, who is accused of killing her three kids while suffering postpartum depression.
“People don’t understand how mental illness isn’t just a willpower thing. It’s chemical imbalances in your brain.” Harshman told KTVQ of the post-traumatic stress disorder and postpartum depression his wife had battled for at least five years.
“She was an incredible mom and she loved those kids,” he insisted.
Cliff Harshman was helping to raise the two older girls, Bailey and Olivia, with his wife after she split from their dad, Quinn Blackmer, who is also struggling to comprehend the violence.
“I’m furious. I’m trying my hardest to bury that for a while and to focus on the now because that anger isn’t going to bring my child back,” Blackmer told KTVQ.
“There’s no textbook. There’s no playbook. There are very few people who have gone through this,” he said.
His younger daughter Olivia has been sedated and will be placed in a longer-term coma as doctors battle to lessen the swelling in her brain she suffered as a result of the gunshot.
Blackmer said the early signs were positive after a CT scan on Wednesday showed no serious blood vessel damage. He added that she had been semi-responsive to touch.
Blackmer said he had been singing to his daughter every night in her hospital bed to try and keep a connection to her.
“It makes all of us here very optimistic that things are trending forward,” Blackmer told KTVQ.
Blackmer, a member of the Church of Latter-day Saints, said Brailey was looking forward to being baptized into the church.
He said he had relied on his faith to get him through the unthinkable tragedy.
The horrific case has eery similarities to that of Lindsay Clancy, the mom accused of strangling her three kids in a fit of postpartum depression in 2023 inside their home in the Boston suburbs,
Recently, a judge ruled that The New Yorker must release all the audio recordings from its interview with Clancy’s husband, Patrick, regarding her mental state in the run-up to the tragedy.
The magazine’s publisher, Conde Nast, was hit with a summons this Monday to hand over the interview with Patrick Clancy in which he said she’d heard a voice telling her to kill their three children, the Boston Globe reported.
“She did not sound like my wife,” he was quoted as saying at the time.
LARAMIE — Marcus Epps hasn’t experienced the best injury luck over the last couple of seasons. After sustaining a season-ending knee injury a season ago, Epps has missed time this year with injury, as well.
That being said, when the former University of Wyoming safety is available, he produces. Sunday, with a lot at stake, was no different.
Epps had a pair of tackles in the Eagles’ 29-18 win at Washington. The victory clinched the NFC North Division crown.
For the season, Epps has recorded 12 tackles in 11 games played for 10-5 Philadelphia. The Eagles travel to Buffalo in Week 17.
Below is a list of all the former Wyoming Cowboys and how they performed in Week 16:
Josh Allen, Buffalo Bills (quarterback)
Allen got a little dinged up in the Bills’ 23-20 win at Cleveland. He was 12-for-19 for 130 yards, while adding 17 yards on seven carries via the ground. Allen sustained a foot injury during the game, but X-rays, fortunately, came back negative. For the season, Allen is 296-for-425 for 3,406 yards with 25 scores and 10 interceptions. On the ground, he’s carried it 105 times totaling 552 yards with a dozen touchdowns for 11-4 Buffalo, which clinched a playoff spot. The Bills host Philadelphia in Week 17.
Andrew Wingard, Jacksonville Jaguars (safety)
Wingard had a mild game in the Jaguars’ 34-20 win at Denver. He laid claim to one tackle. For the season, Wingard possesses 79 tackles, two tackles for loss, one interception, eight passes defended and one quarterback hit for 11-4 Jacksonville. The Jaguars travel to Indianapolis in Week 17.
Frank Crum, Denver Broncos (offensive line)
Crum participated in the Broncos’ 34-20 loss to Jacksonville. He played 15 snaps, four on offense and 11 on special teams. For the season, Crum has played 114 snaps, 48 on offense and 71 on special teams for 12-3 Denver. The Broncos travel to Kansas City on Christmas.
Logan Wilson, Dallas Cowboys (linebacker)
Wilson put forth his best game since joining the Cowboys mid-season. He registered five tackles in Dallas’ 34-17 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers. For the season, Wilson has 62 tackles, four passes defended and one fumble recovery between his time in Cincinnati and now with the 6-8-1 Cowboys. Dallas travels to Washington in Week 17.
Carl Granderson, New Orleans Saints (defensive end)
Granderson boasted a good game in the Saints’ 29-6 win over the New York Jets. He made three tackles. For the season, Granderson owns 46 tackles, 4.5 sacks, eight tackles for loss, three passes defended and six quarterback hits for 5-10 New Orleans. The Saints travel to Tennessee in Week 17.
Chad Muma, New England Patriots (linebacker)
Muma, who was signed by New England from Indianapolis’ practice squad, played in the Patriots’ 28-24 win at Baltimore. He didn’t record a stat. For the season, Muma has made five tackles in six games played between the Colts and now the 12-3 Patriots. New England travels to the New York Jets in Week 17.
Treyton Welch, New Orleans Saints (tight end)
Welch has yet to be elevated from the practice squad.
LOOK: Pokes’ unis through the years
Rep. Harriet Hageman, a Republican, is running for Senate in Wyoming next year, seeking to replace retiring GOP Sen. Cynthia Lummis, who announced last week that she would not run for re-election.
Hageman, 63, was elected to be the state’s lone representative in Congress in 2022 after ousting then-Rep. Liz Cheney in a primary. Hageman had Donald Trump’s endorsement against Cheney, a vocal critic of the president, and the congresswoman name-checked the president in her three-minute launch video on Tuesday.
“I stood with President Trump to deliver the largest tax cut in American history, helping working families keep more of their own money,” Hageman said, later adding, “We worked together to secure the border and fund efforts to remove and deport those in the country illegally.”
“We must keep up this fight, and that’s why today I’m announcing my campaign for United States Senate,” Hageman said. “This fight is about making sure the next century sees the advancements of the last while protecting our culture and our way of life. We must dedicate ourselves to ensuring that the next 100 years is the next great American century.”
Hageman had been eyeing a run for governor, but ultimately decided to run for Senate, noting in an interview with Cowboy State Daily published Tuesday that “it’s important that we have someone who can hit the ground running the moment [Lummis] retires. That’s not the place for on-the-job training.”
Hageman added that Trump is “well aware” that she is running for Senate, and she would welcome his endorsement.
It’s not yet clear if Hageman will face a tough fight for the GOP nomination. There are multiple opportunities for other Wyoming Republicans to run statewide, given the open governor’s race and Hageman’s campaign opening up her at-large House seat.
The winner of the GOP primary would be in a strong position to win the Senate seat in the deep-red state. Trump won Wyoming by nearly 46 percentage points last year. Hageman won her second term in 2024 by 48 points.
Although Wyoming is a solidly Republican state, Hageman faced a rowdy crowd at a town hall earlier this year. She was met with boos as she commented on federal government cuts, the Department of Government Efficiency and the future of Social Security.
Hageman called the outbursts “over the top” and said, “It’s so bizarre to me how obsessed you are with federal government.” Her adviser dismissed the disruptions as “pre-planned” and “political theater.”
A statewide grant program supporting childcare providers drew 90 applications in just two rounds of funding earlier this year. For the Wyoming Interagency Working Group on Childcare, which launched the initiative, the response affirmed that the program is addressing a significant community need. Sheridan Media’s Ron Richter has more.
In 2025, the Wyoming Interagency Working Group on Childcare worked collaboratively to award $183,537 to 24 providers. In an effort to build on that success, the grant program will reopen January 2 with applications closing March 1, 2026. Administered by the Wyoming Community Foundation, grants of up to $20,000 per applicant will be awarded with a renewed focus on communities with the greatest childcare shortages.
Grant awards will be prioritized based on requests from high-needs communities as will be outlined in the application and on the Wyoming Community Foundation’s website, along with plans to increase the number of children and families being cared for and engagement or planned engagement with business support services through the Small Business Development Center. Funding for this round of grantmaking includes the Wyoming Maternal and Child Health Unit, Wyoming Department of Family Services, the Wyoming Community Foundation, and the Business Studio at LCCC. To apply for a grant or if you have questions about the application process, you can click here.
SEC Says No Trading Occurred as 3 Platforms and 4 Clubs Allegedly Locked Retail Withdrawals
How AI is redefining finance leadership: ‘There has never been a more exciting time to be a CFO’ | Fortune
Fitness guru Joe Wicks reveals his top health recommendation for 2026… and it’s not exercise
Film Reviews: New releases for Dec. 24 – 26
Video: Zelensky Calls Peace Plan ‘Quite Solid,’ Russia Then Launches Missiles
Florida High School Football Rankings: Top 25 teams – Oct. 21
Cleary's 21 help Le Moyne down Central Connecticut State 69-64 in OT
How old is Bo Nix? What to know about Oregon quarterback ahead of 2024 NFL Draft
99th annual Pony Swim held in Virginia
Video: ‘It Didn’t Have to Happen This Way:’ U.Va. Faculty Call for Review of Police Response to Protests
Nick Fuentes says he’ll campaign against Vivek Ramaswamy in Ohio in slur-laced rant
Libyan army chief killed in plane crash: What next?
U.S. and Ukraine reach consensus on key issues aimed at ending the war
A 3-D Look Inside Trump’s Revamped Oval Office
Trump admin sues Illinois Gov. Pritzker over laws shielding migrants from courthouse arrests
-
Iowa1 week agoAddy Brown motivated to step up in Audi Crooks’ absence vs. UNI
-
Maine1 week agoElementary-aged student killed in school bus crash in southern Maine
-
Maryland1 week agoFrigid temperatures to start the week in Maryland
-
New Mexico1 week agoFamily clarifies why they believe missing New Mexico man is dead
-
Detroit, MI1 week ago‘Love being a pedo’: Metro Detroit doctor, attorney, therapist accused in web of child porn chats
-
Health1 week ago‘Aggressive’ new flu variant sweeps globe as doctors warn of severe symptoms
-
Massachusetts1 week agoMIT professor Nuno F.G. Loureiro, a 47-year-old physicist and fusion scientist, shot and killed in his home in Brookline, Mass. | Fortune
-
Maine1 week agoFamily in Maine host food pantry for deer | Hand Off