Authorities in New Hampshire are investigating a devastating murder-suicide after a mother, Emily Long, 34, allegedly shot and killed her husband, Ryan, 48, and two of their children, aged eight and six, before turning the gun on herself. A third child, aged three, was found unharmed in the home.
A Heartbreaking Discovery
On the evening of August 18, 2025, state troopers responded to the Long family’s home in Madbury, New Hampshire, where they discovered the bodies of Emily, Ryan, and two of their children. The surviving child was unharmed, and investigators have since confirmed the incident appears to be a murder-suicide. Autopsies have been conducted, but the motive remains unclear.
In a statement, the New Hampshire Department of Justice said:
“Based on the information available, it appears that in the early morning hours of Monday, August 18, 2025, Ms. Long took a handgun from the home and caused the deaths of Ryan Long and their two children, Parker and Ryan, before taking her own life.”
Disturbing Social Media Posts
In the months leading up to the tragedy, Emily had posted a series of troubling videos on social media. She revealed that her husband had been diagnosed with glioblastoma, an aggressive form of brain cancer, and detailed the emotional toll it was taking on her and her children.
In her final video, posted shortly before the shootings, Emily expressed her struggle with depression and her desire to create normalcy for her family:
“All I want to do is hide under a blanket with my kids, but that isn’t healthy for them and it’s not healthy for me. Today I decided I need to make a conscious effort to shift my mindset. I’m getting out of this depression whether I want to or not. I am determined to create normalcy.”
In other videos, she spoke about the difficulty of explaining her husband’s diagnosis to her children, revealing the deep emotional strain the family was under.
Ongoing Investigation
Authorities have acknowledged that investigators are aware of “various concerns/issues” within the household at the time of the tragedy. However, they have cautioned against speculating that the incident was caused by a single factor or stressor.
New Hampshire Assistant Attorney General Ben Agati told WCAX:
“One of the biggest questions they have right now is motive—why? And I think that’s probably one of the more difficult things that they are trying to grasp to understand how this came to be.”
Officials have confirmed there is no further threat to the public.
A Community in Mourning
The tragic loss of the Long family has left the community shocked and grieving. While answers may never fully come, the haunting social media posts offer a glimpse into the despair that preceded this unthinkable act.
If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health, please reach out for help. You are not alone.