In a tragic incident in Wyoming, a mother named Tranyelle Harshman, 32, fatally shot her four children before taking her own life. Details have come to light regarding the events of that heartbreaking day.
Harshman contacted police in Byron, Wyoming, to report that she had shot her children at their home. Three of the children died almost instantly, and she then turned the gun on herself.
According to authorities, a call was made to 911 at 1:30 p.m. local time on February 10. During the call, a female reported gunshots inside her home and informed the dispatcher that her daughters had been shot.
The Big Horn County Sheriff’s Office issued a press release stating: “When dispatchers asked the status of the gunshot victims the female stated that she believed them to be deceased.
“She told them two children would be located upstairs in their cribs and two would be located downstairs in their shared bedroom.
“The caller further stated she could be found in her upstairs bedroom and that she was going to do the same to herself.”
Upon arrival, police discovered a 2-year-old and a 9-year-old deceased, along with a 7-year-old and another 2-year-old who were initially alive. Tragically, the 2-year-old passed away at the scene.
All four children had sustained gunshot wounds to the head, as reported by PEOPLE.
Harshman was found with a self-inflicted gunshot wound to her head. She was initially alive but later died from her injuries in the hospital.
The 7-year-old was taken to a local hospital, received advanced life support, and was subsequently airlifted to another hospital for further care. Unfortunately, she passed away five days later.
A toxicology report revealed that Harshman had drugs in her system, including ketamine and clonazepam, an anti-anxiety medication.
Clonazepam, a sedative, has potential side effects such as paranoia, suicidal thoughts, and impaired judgment, coordination, and memory.
Ketamine, known for its hallucinogenic effects, is FDA-approved for use as an anesthetic but not for treating mental health disorders, according to Johns Hopkins University.
The toxicology reports, reviewed by Cowboy State Daily, indicated that the children had significant amounts of propranolol — a beta-blocker — and diphenhydramine, an antihistamine causing drowsiness, in their systems.
Diphenhydramine is commonly found in medications like Benadryl.
Propranolol is used to treat a range of conditions, including high blood pressure, chest pain, migraines, and tremors.
While the purpose of these medications for the children is unclear, Cliff, Harshman’s husband, explained that his wife’s medical treatment was a last resort for her mental health struggles, including PTSD and depression.
“I’m bitter that this has had to continue to be a thorn in my side, when I need to just… grieve my family’s loss,” Cliff expressed about the inquiries he faced. “I also want people to understand that this isn’t a chance to demonize different therapies. This works for a lot of different people.
“This was her last grasp at the rope, if you will, to hang on.”
A GoFundMe campaign has been initiated for Cliff, who has publicly addressed the tragic event, sharing with Cowboy State Daily that his wife “is not a monster”.
He explained that she had been undergoing treatment for mental health issues, including postpartum depression.
He stated: “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.”
If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, support is available through Mental Health America. Call or text 988 to connect with a 24-hour crisis center or visit 988lifeline.org to webchat. You can also reach the Crisis Text Line by texting MHA to 741741.