CASPER — People all around Wyoming rallied Friday evening for the single survivor of Monday’s murder-suicide in Byron, Wyoming, as well as her father, stepdad and first responders.
The tragedy of a mother shooting her four young children, then herself, has rocked the Cowboy State. Young Olivia Blackmer, 7, survived and continues to fight for life in a Salt Lake City hospital.
“Wyoming for Olivia” rallies were set for at least 13 locations around Wyoming.
One of the event’s organizers is Jamie Anderson of Casper, who said she and friends Abby Roich and Shelby Willis wanted to do something on behalf of Olivia.
Olivia, along with sister Brailey, 9, and half-sisters Brooke Harshman, nearly 3, and Jordan, 2, were shot by their mother, Tranyelle Harshman, who then took her own life during a mental health crisis.
Anderson, Roich and Willis put out a call on Facebook on Thursday for people to join them wherever they are at in the state for a time of prayer and a candlelight vigil Friday just as the work week ended.
“The main thing here is the power of prayer and the more people coming together for this little girl the better,” Anderson said. “I just know if anything, Wyomingites come together when needed and we’re there for each other.”
The gathering in Casper at the city’s David Street Station that featured battery-powered candles, music and about a two-dozen people mirrored other events statewide where people focused their thoughts and prayers on Olivia, as well as her father Quinn Blackmer and stepdad Cliff Harshman.
The event included four white pieces of paper taped to the David Street stage where participants could write an encouragement or prayer for the family with markers provided. People were free to come and go and show their support with prayer or meditation.
Messages For Olivia
“Olivia, you are so special! You are in all of our prayers,” wrote one family.
Another wrote: “There is a God in Heaven watching over you! Love, hope and healing!”
Albert Hall said he attended a rally last year to support the family of Bobby Maher, an April 2024 murder victim in Casper, and wanted to show his support for the faith community by coming to pray for Olivia.
“I want to pray for her and her dad and so many other people who were involved in it,” he said. “It’s as simple as that.”
Rebecca Watts said she also came to support Olivia and pray for her.
“I know her father needs her right now. It’s such a tragedy,” she said.
For Casper Mayor Ray Pacheco, the rally was about praying for Olivia and lifting up another community.
“I think it’s important we come together as a community to support other communities,” he said. “In a case like this that is very tragic … we’re here to show solidarity and (take) the opportunity to pray for the families out there and in our community.”
Prior to the gatherings Friday, others around the state told Cowboy State Daily they were committed to turn out for Olivia as well.
A Casper couple pray for Olivia at the stage. Some people attended the event for part of the hour, while others stayed for the entire event. (Dale Killingbeck, Cowboy State Daily) 
Messages left on paper for Olivia will be forwarded to her and her father. (Dale Killingbeck, Cowboy State Daily) 
Casper’s Albert Hall writes a message for Olivia on one of the paper’s provided. (Dale Killingbeck, Cowboy State Daily) 
Organizers at the Wyoming for Olivia event in Casper set up battery-powered candles on a state and had papers where people could write messages to cheer her. ( (Dale Killingbeck, Cowboy State Daily) 
Casper residents gathered at David Street Station in the center of the city to pray and meditate for Olivia Blackmer, 7, the lone survivor of a family shooting in Byron, Wyoming on Monday. She is fighting for her life in a Salt Lake City hospital. (Dale Killingbeck, Cowboy State Daily) 
Casper residents gathered at David Street Station in the center of the city to pray and meditate for Olivia Blackmer, 7, the lone survivor of a family shooting in Byron, Wyoming on Monday. She is fighting for her life in a Salt Lake City hospital. (Dale Killingbeck, Cowboy State Daily)
Gathering In Powell
In Powell, Katie Bennett said she and others would gather at Homesteader Park.
“I see our community suffering and that family and both fathers are suffering, we just want to help them, and I truly believe in the power of God and the power of prayer,” she said. “I do believe if our state comes together and prays as one. God will hear us and a miracle will be.”
Bennett said she’d been contacted by many elderly residents and those with small children who would not be able to be out in the weather, but wanted to help. She asked them to pray from home and put a candle in their windows.
In Cheyenne, Wyoming Family Alliance Director of Operations and Communications Gena Konrad-Cone said they also planned a prayer vigil on the Capitol steps for Olivia and her father. She said she posted a call to action on their Facebook page.
“As champions of life, born and unborn please join us to pray for Olivia as she is currently clinging to life,” Konrad-Cone wrote.
And Beyond
In Cowley, 10 minutes from Byron and just south of the Montana border, Pastor Johannes Slabbert at Water of Life Church opened his churchdoors.
“We are opening our doors for anyone who needs prayer or anyone who wants to join us in prayer for Olivia,” he said. “We believe that God can do a work, so we want to make this place a light house.”
Other events were planned at the Alpine Civic Center, Crosspoint Baptist Church in Worland, North Big Horn Hospital outside its Emergency Room in Lovell, and other locations.
Ski teams from Casper, Laramie and Pinedale also indicated they planned to set aside time to remember Olivia.
Olivia’s father told Cowboy State Daily earlier this week that he needs “the world praying for my baby.”
“I don’t have my (older) daughter anymore and this is all I have left,” he said.
And Olivia’s stepdad, Cliff Harshman also asked people to “keep sending as much and prayers that way as you can.”
“We’re all rooting for her; we’re all praying hard,” he added.
Dale Killingbeck can be reached at dale@cowboystatedaily.com.
