The family of a 7-year-old girl who was the sole survivor after her mother murdered her three sisters before taking her own life has given a heartbreaking update on her condition and said she is “heavily sedated.”
Olivia Blackmer was shot in the head by her mother Tranyelle Harshman, 32, at the family home in Byron, Wyoming on February 10, in a murder-suicide rampage that also left her older sister Brailey, 9, and 2-year-old twin step-sisters Brooke and Jordan dead.
Paramedics flew her to Primary Children’s Hospital in Salt Lake City where her family says she is fighting for her life.
“They have her heavily sedated. Essentially, the bullet went through from one side of her head to the other,” her uncle Korbin Goulding told KSL/KULR.
Olivia’s stepmom Katelynn Beatty said the family was “in a terrible situation,” as doctors continued to monitor the swelling in the little girl’s brain.
“They are trying to put their best foot forward in a terrible situation. They are just devastated and just are asking for prayers and love for this little girl,” Beatty told the TV station.
Harshman — who was struggling with her mental health and suffering from postpartum depression and PTSD, according to her husband — called a 911 dispatcher to tell them where they would find her children’s bodies before shooting herself.
A GoFundMe set up by Olivia’s stepmom has raised more than $100,000 for her treatment.
“Olivia has suffered severe traumatic brain injury and is fighting hard for her life! She is in critical condition; the next few days will be crucial for her outcome,” she wrote in the fundraiser’s description.
A second GoFundMe set up to help Cliff Harshman, Olivia’s stepfather, and husband to Tranyelle, has raised more than $115,000.
Olivia and her murdered sister Brailey were incredibly close, a family friend told local KSL-TV.
The siblings split their lives between Byron, Wyoming, where they stayed with their mother and stepfather — and Utah, where they stayed with their father and stepmother.
“They were just giggly and cute, and they always held hands,” a family friend, Denise Beatty said.
Beatty said the heartbroken family was leaning on their faith as they continued to pray for Olivia.
“Brailey is her little angel up in heaven looking over Olivia, and she’s watching over her while she’s fighting for her life,” Beatty said, as per KSL/KULR.
