Search icon

News

18th Feb 2025

Heartbroken dad speaks out after four daughters shot dead by mum

Zoe Hodges

The fourth daughter died over the weekend

The dad of two of the four girls shot and killed by their own mother in a murder-suicide in Ohio has spoke out.

It comes after the fourth daughter died of her injuries over the weekend.

Olivia Blackmer was seven years old when she and her three sisters were shot by their mother, Tranyelle Harshman on February 10. The mother then turned the gun on herself.

Harshman’s other three children Brailey, aged nine, Brooke, two and Jordan, two, died at the scene after suffering gunshot wounds to the head.

Olivia survived the traumatic series of events and was rushed to Primary Children’s Hospital in Salt Lake City, Utah and while under sedation, doctors remained hopeful after they revealed she was responding to touch but tragically on Saturday 15 February she passed away.

The family of Olivia confirmed the tragic news in a statement on their GoFundMe page yesterday.

It read: “Olivia is with her sisters now. She gained her angel wings yesterday (15 February) at 3:44pm. She fought so so hard up til the last minute! Her body and her brain had been through too much, medication helped but we reached a point where medical options were exhausted and her body only continued to get worse.

“She kept fighting through it all though until her heart stopped. We are grateful she hung on as long as she did so we could get some valuable time with our sweet baby girl the last five days.

“We want to thank each and every one of you for your prayers and support for our family. We are in a rough spot with the tragic passing of both daughters.”

Now Olivia’s dad has spoken out saying: “I know this isn’t the update people were hoping for and we are absolutely gutted to make it, but we needed time to process what had happened before we let the world know of the tragic passing of Olivia yesterday (feb 15) afternoon at 3:44 pm. 

“The amount of devastation we feel and are going through is so much.

“From the bottom of our hearts we want to thank every single person that has donated and prayed and fasted for us and our family and our beautiful Olivia. Your kindness and generosity has been so much and we just ask that you continue to pray and keep us all in your thoughts.

“The peace I find is knowing that my babies don’t have to be apart from each other and they can also be with their other sisters.”

Harshman was pronounced dead on Tuesday 11 February, days after she made a horrifying phone call to 911 to report the shooting.

The American woman reportedly opened fire at her children with Big Horn County Sheriff’s Office saying: “The dispatcher pleaded with the female caller over the phone for the female caller to remain on the line until responding units arrive. The female caller stated multiple times that she could not do that and that it was too late.”

The family have set up two GoFundMe campaigns to raise money to help pay for the funerals of the girls.

Topics:

sensitive,USA