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.
There are many great old Western movies set in Wyoming. For many years, the Western cowboy theme was all the rage in theaters. We’ve shown many of those old movies on this page. Here is one we missed.
Wings Over Wyoming is an alternate title for the 1937 64-minute American Western film Hollywood Cowboy, directed by Ewing Scott and George Sherman. The movie stars George O’Brien as a film star who thwarts a protection racket targeting local cattle ranchers and is available to stream on Tubi.
Why was this Western originally released under the title Hollywood Cowboy? Later, the title and the poster were changed. Something to do with marketing, I’m sure. George O’Brien is a vacationing Hollywood cowboy star who is forced to become a real-life hero when eastern racketeers try to run a protection scheme on local Wyoming cattle ranchers.
The plot is simple, as was often the case with old cowboy movies of that time. The hero is on vacation in Wyoming. He gets a job at a local ranch run by Violet Butler and her niece to escape city life, only to battle an eastern crime boss running an extortion and protection racket against local ranchers. The mobsters harass and kill ranchers for protection money, including causing stampedes by bussing herds with a biplane.
The film was directed by Ewing Scott and George Sherman, and released on May 28, 1937, by RKO Pictures before being re-released as Wings Over Wyoming in 1947.
It is notable for blending classic Western elements like horses and guns with modern 1930s elements such as cars and airplanes.
Below is a gallery of great old movie posters, all Westerns made about old Wyoming.
A movie poster is supposed to attract people to see the flick by showing them what they like.
In the case of that means beautiful women, tough men, fistfights, guns, and action scenes.
Often an old movie poster for a bad movie is just as bad as the movie itself. It told little of what the movie was actually about.
But who cares, they were all about the same thing. That same sill plot over and over again. Before TV that’s all people had to watch, and it was considered good, at the time.
Vintage Wyoming Movie Posters
I love walking down the hallway of a modern movie theater and looking at the old posters of vintage movies.
That got me thinking about old Westerns based on Wyoming. How many of those posters are still around?
Many are, and many are for sale online, if you want to decorate your home, or even home theater, with classic and mostly forgotten movie posters.
Most of these films were made before the era of television. Hollywood was cranking out these things as fast as they could.
The plots, the scrips, the acting, directing, and editing were SO BAD, they were good.
Gallery Credit: Glenn Woods
Wyoming Pickup Truck Office View
Gallery Credit: Glenn Woods
CASA of Wyoming Valley will celebrate the ribbon cutting of its new location at noon Thursday at 57 N. Franklin St., Kirby Health Center Annex II, Wilkes-Barre. Community members, partners, and supporters are invited to join in commemorating this important milestone for the organization. An open house will follow the ribbon cutting until 2 p.m.
The event will mark CASA of Wyoming Valley’s transition into a new space designed to better support its growing programs and services. Attendees will have the opportunity to tour the new location, meet staff, and learn more about the organization’s ongoing work advocating for children in foster care.
CASA of Wyoming Valley serves Luzerne and Wyoming counties by recruiting, training, and supporting volunteer advocates who speak up for the best interests of children who have experienced abuse or neglect. Through its work, the organization strives to ensure every child has a safe, permanent, and nurturing home.
“You never forget your first home. The Friedman group have been wonderful partners and their building was home for our programs first 13 and a half years,” said Ryan Schofield, executive director of CASA of Wyoming Valley. “Growth requires change, and our new home at The Kirby Health Center meets the needs of our growing program. Our team is excited to start this new chapter.”
For information, visit luzernecasa.org or follow CASA of Wyoming Valley on social media.
About CASA of Wyoming Valley
CASA of Wyoming Valley is a nonprofit organization dedicated to advocating for children in the foster care system in Luzerne County. Through trained community volunteers, CASA ensures that each child’s voice is heard and their best interests are represented in court and beyond.
CASPER, Wyo. — Sunday is here, and it’s the perfect day to relax, recharge and reinvigorate so that you’re ready for the upcoming week. It’s also the perfect day for some morning yoga, or to go to the carnival! From a BBQ Cook-off event to the CWFR, this is what’s happening on Sunday in the Oil City.
The Oil City Daily Event Guide is sponsored by Central Wyoming Fair & Rodeo.
Start off your Sunday in a great way with Sunrise Yoga at David Street Station, beginning at 7:30 a.m.
“Sunrise Yoga is the perfect way to start your mornings with some care for your body!” the event page states. “Yoga will start at 7:30 a.m. and go till 8:30 a.m. Each morning will have a different instructor and we will have more details on that soon.”
Happening Sunday at 7:30 a.m.
The Central Wyoming Fair and Rodeo is hosting its annual Open Class BBQ Contest on Sunday, beginning at 4 p.m.
“Celebrate great food, friendly competition, and community pride during the Open Class BBQ Contest at the Central Wyoming Fair & PRCA Rodeo as part of the 250th Celebration of America,” the event page states. “Open to the public, participants are invited to bring their best prepared BBQ meats to the Industrial Building at the Central Wyoming Fairgrounds on Sunday, July 5, 2026, for judging at 5 p.m. Contest categories include beef, chicken, fish, lamb, pork, seafood, and wild game. Entries will be judged on appearance, tenderness/texture, and taste by the committee. While this event is not a public tasting, it’s a great opportunity for BBQ enthusiasts to showcase their skills and be part of the Fair’s ‘Celebrating America’s Spirit festivities.”
Happening Sunday at 4 p.m.
Don’t see an event on the calendar? Add it! Click here, add your details and submit to let Casper know all about it.
It’s fair week! The Central Wyoming Fair and Rodeo is back at the Central Wyoming Fairgrounds, and the entire community is invited.
“The all new Amusement Midway Providers has a combined 100+ years providing safe family fun and entertainment,” the event page states. “We provide carnival rides, games, and food to fairs, festivals and celebrations across the southern states and areas of the Midwest. With all of the fun and activities, guests of all ages can enjoy the excitement. Come one, come all to the best time of your lives. Step right up adults and let your inner child out. Enjoy your children’s pure excitement as you create magical memories that will last you a lifetime. We strive to bring you the best of the best. Safety is a top priority at Amusement Midway Providers. All our equipment is well-maintained and conforms to industry standards.”
Happening Sunday at 3 p.m.
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