A New Hampshire mother killed her husband and two children before taking her own life in a murder-suicide that occurred early Monday morning, August 18, in Madbury, according to state officials.
Emily Long, 34, used a handgun from inside the family’s Moharimet Drive home to shoot her eight-year-old son Parker and six-year-old daughter Ryan once each in the head before shooting her husband Ryan Long, 48, multiple times. She then shot herself in the head, investigators determined following completed autopsies.
New Hampshire State Police troopers responded to the residence at approximately 8:21 p.m. Monday after receiving a 911 call reporting multiple people dead. Inside the home, officers discovered the bodies of all four family members. A third child, a toddler, was found alive and unharmed in the house and is now in the care of family members.
The Attorney General’s Office ruled the children’s deaths as homicides, while Emily Long’s death was classified as suicide. Ryan Long’s death was also ruled a homicide. All four victims appeared to have suffered gunshot wounds, and investigators found a gun near the family.
Attorney General John Formella indicated that investigators are becoming aware of various concerns and issues ongoing in the household at the time of the killings. However, officials emphasized that people should avoid speculating that this event was caused by a single reason or stressor.
In the days leading up to the tragedy, Emily Long had been active on social media platforms, particularly TikTok, where she documented her family’s struggles. Her account, which has since been made private, described her as a mother of three and brain cancer wife. In her bio, she wrote that the platform served as her digital diary, noting it was cheaper than therapy.
Emily Long had been openly discussing her husband’s glioblastoma diagnosis, which occurred in April 2025. Glioblastoma is considered the most aggressive form of brain cancer with an extremely low survival rate. She regularly posted videos about the challenges of dealing with Ryan’s terminal diagnosis, including updates on his treatment plan and doctor appointments.
In her final video posted Saturday, August 16, Emily Long discussed her struggles with depression and her efforts to create normalcy for her children. She expressed concern about how her husband’s illness was affecting their children, noting that they were having difficulty as he grew weaker, more tired, and increasingly irritable. Senior Assistant Attorney General Ben Agati said, “I think the big thing is to not speculate that there’s any one reason why something like this would happen.”
Ryan Long worked as a school psychologist in the Oyster River Cooperative School District, which serves the communities of Durham, Lee and Madbury. Emily Long worked as a director of operations for a local restaurant, according to her LinkedIn profile.
District Superintendent Robert Shaps released a statement expressing the school community’s heartbreak over the losses. The district has partnered with local school districts and organizations to provide mental health support for students, families, and staff as they prepare for the coming school year. Shaps indicated the district’s commitment remains focused on the well-being of students, staff, and their families, while declining to make further comments out of respect for those involved.
Neighbors in the small town of Madbury, which has fewer than 2,000 residents and is located about 90 minutes north of Boston, expressed shock at the tragedy. The family had lived on Moharimet Drive since 2020, a residential street known for its friendly atmosphere where families often gather outside and children play together.
Neighbor Beverly Ketel, who is now caring for the family’s two dogs, described the Longs as appearing to be a perfect family. She recalled that the children had recently set up a lemonade stand to sell to neighbors and that her daughter had given American Girl dolls to six-year-old Ryan Long. Ketel noted that Ryan Long was well-known in the community and had touched many lives as part of the town’s fabric.
Community members have shown support by leaving flowers on the family’s driveway and helping care for their pets. The tragedy has deeply affected residents who described not seeing any warning signs of what was to come.
Officials reminded people in crisis that help is available through the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline by calling, texting, or chatting at 988, or by contacting the Crisis Text Line by texting “TALK” to 741741. The investigation into the incident remains ongoing, though authorities have confirmed there is no known threat to the general public.
