A quiet New Hampshire town has been left in shock after a mother, described by neighbours as part of a “perfect family,” fatally shot her husband and two young children before taking her own life. The killings, which unfolded in the Long family’s Madbury home earlier this week, have been ruled a triple homicide followed by suicide by the state’s medical examiner.
Authorities confirmed that Emily Long, 34, died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound after allegedly killing her husband, Ryan Long, 48, and their children Parker, 8, and Ryan Jr., 6. The horrific crime scene was discovered on Monday night after a 911 call reported multiple deaths inside the home. A firearm was found near the bodies.
In a heartbreaking revelation, officials confirmed that the couple’s youngest child, a three-year-old, was found alive and unharmed inside the house. The toddler has since been placed in the care of relatives.
Neighbours and friends have struggled to comprehend how the tragedy could have unfolded in a family that outwardly appeared close and loving. “It was a perfect family as far as we knew,” neighbour Bevy Ketel told WBZ-TV. “It’s just shocking. We didn’t see it coming.”
The state’s chief medical examiner determined that both children died from gunshot wounds to the head. Ryan Long, a school psychologist at Oyster River Middle School in Durham, sustained multiple gunshot wounds. He had been battling glioblastoma, an aggressive and terminal form of brain cancer.
Assistant Attorney General Ben Agati acknowledged that investigators were working to understand what led to the killings, though a clear motive has yet to be established. “One of the biggest questions they have right now is motive, why?” Agati told WCAX. “I think that’s probably one of the more difficult things that they are trying to grasp, to understand how this came to be.”
In the days leading up to the tragedy, Emily Long had shared disturbing insights into her state of mind on social media. In a TikTok video posted just two days before the shootings, she spoke candidly about her despair and the difficulty of coping with her husband’s illness while trying to maintain stability for her children.
“I have been struggling so much and really depressed and just have really become reclusive, and just wanted to be with my kids and my husband,” she said in the video. Despite her admission of deep depression, she added that she was determined to create “normalcy” in her household. “That being said, I’m making a change and it is starting today … And I’m making a point to get out of my depression and do this for my family.”
The video has now taken on a chilling new significance in light of the events that followed. Friends and neighbours have described Emily as devoted to her family, but also under severe strain as her husband’s condition worsened.
Ryan Long was well respected in the local community, where his work as a school psychologist had touched many families. Tributes have poured in online, with colleagues describing him as a compassionate professional and a dedicated father.
Emily, who worked as director of operations at the restaurant chain Wing-Itz according to her LinkedIn profile, often posted about her family life and the challenges of balancing work with her husband’s illness. Those posts now appear to show a woman increasingly overwhelmed by grief and responsibility.
Police have not released details about the 911 call that led them to the home, nor have they disclosed whether anyone outside the immediate family was aware of Emily’s deteriorating mental health.
The killings have reignited concerns about the hidden toll of caregiving, particularly when one parent is facing terminal illness. Experts note that depression among caregivers is common, though it rarely escalates to such extreme violence.
Authorities say their investigation remains ongoing, with a focus on understanding the family’s circumstances in the weeks and months before the tragedy. “We are still learning a great deal about what was happening inside that home,” Agati said.
For the Madbury community, the loss has been almost impossible to process. Vigils are being planned, and local residents have expressed a desire to support the surviving child, who has now lost his parents and siblings in the most devastating circumstances.
“This is not something you ever think could happen on your street, to people you know,” one neighbour said. “Everyone is just heartbroken.”
The case has also prompted reminders of available mental health resources. Authorities urged anyone experiencing similar feelings of despair to reach out for help. The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is available at 1-800-273-8255, while support can also be found by texting the Crisis Text Line at 741741.
The Long family’s story — one of love, illness, and unimaginable loss — has struck a nerve well beyond New Hampshire. As investigators piece together the final days inside the Madbury home, questions about motive may linger, but the devastating reality for the surviving child and the wider community is already painfully clear.
This tragedy has left a lasting scar, not only for relatives and neighbours but for all who saw Emily’s final words online — a haunting message of determination mixed with despair, now echoing as the backdrop to a crime that has stunned a small town and drawn national attention.