Mother, Terminally Ill Father, and Two Children Found Dead in Their Home – Details

The mother of three who was caring for her terminally ill husband had been struggling, according to posts she shared on social media in the months before the tragedy.

A small New Hampshire town has been left shaken after four members of the same family were discovered dead inside their Madbury home earlier this week. Authorities have since confirmed the circumstances surrounding the tragedy, following the release of autopsy results.

Police said the bodies were found on the night of Monday, August 18, when officers responded to the Long family residence. Inside, investigators discovered 34-year-old Emily Long, her husband Ryan Long, 48, and two of their children, 8-year-old Parker and 6-year-old Ryan. A toddler was also in the house but was found unharmed and has since been placed in the care of relatives.

The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner has now completed autopsies on the family. Officials determined that both children died from single gunshot wounds to the head, while their father suffered multiple gunshot wounds. Their deaths were classified as homicides. Emily died from a single gunshot wound to the head, with her manner of death ruled a suicide.

The autopsy report notes, "Based upon the information available at this time, 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 her two children, Parker and Ryan, and then took her own life immediately thereafter."

Attorney General John M. Formella, alongside state and local law enforcement officials, noted that investigators are learning about various challenges within the household leading up to the tragedy. They cautioned the public against assuming that the incident was caused by a single issue, emphasizing that the situation is complex.

Based on his LinkedIn, Ryan had built his career as a school psychologist, most recently working at Oyster River Middle School in Durham. He had prior experience at Shaker Regional School District and Moharimet Elementary School in Madbury.

Meanwhile, Emily was the director of operations at Wing-itz, a Seacoast restaurant chain with three locations in New Hampshire, where she had worked for several years.

She had studied hospitality management at the University of New Hampshire, according to a university spokesperson. Wing-itz owner Derek Fisher confirmed her long-standing role at the company but declined to comment further in light of the tragedy and the ongoing State Police investigation.

In the months leading up to the tragedy, Emily appeared to use social media as an outlet while the family coped with Ryan's declining health following a glioblastoma diagnosis. On her private TikTok account, she spoke about her struggles with depression.

Emily described how the previous weeks had been challenging and overwhelming for the entire family. While she tried to hold everyone together, she admitted she was barely managing herself. "I just want to erupt and run away, and everyone's struggling for different reasons," she noted.

She said she was becoming increasingly reclusive, choosing to spend most of her time with her children and husband. Emily indicated that she was determined to make a change, committing herself to overcoming her depression for the sake of her family.

In her last post before the tragic incident, she wrote, "I'm making strides to get better. 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."

Emily wanted to create normalcy and stability for her children, but she found difficulty in helping them understand their father's terminal illness. She noted that her two older children seemed to grasp the situation. However, the youngest was still too little to fully comprehend what was happening.

Emily also shared the emotional weight of watching her husband's illness progress, hinting at the strain it placed on her as both a mother and a caregiver. "Want to watch someone actually fall apart before your very eyes? I swear, this cancer will be the thing that breaks me," she captioned one of her posts shared on May 11.

Though her videos have since been removed, they reflected a portrait of a woman under immense pressure, determined but also deeply unsettled.

Now, New Hampshire Assistant Attorney General Ben Agati has said the question of the motive is "very, very tricky." However, it is one of the most pressing and difficult questions. He noted that this is a matter they'll continue to examine as they piece together the circumstances that led to the family's deaths.

Ben added that investigators were considering whether financial strain or the family's health challenges may have contributed to the tragedy. He emphasized that cases involving homicide and suicide are often far more complex than a single factor, and urged against reducing the situation to one explanation.

As new details emerge, the community in Madbury is struggling to come to terms with the tragedy. The loss has deeply impacted the Oyster River Cooperative School District (ORCSD), which serves Madbury, Durham, and Lee.

The ORCSD leaders said they are working with neighboring school systems and local organizations to ensure mental health resources are available for students, families, and staff.

They added, "Our commitment remains to the well-being of our students, staff, and their families. Out of respect for everyone involved, we will not be making further comments."

Staff members held crisis meetings at the district's administrative offices, while neighbors shared that the children had attended Moharimet Elementary School, located nearby. Teachers are scheduled to return on August 25, with students beginning classes on August 27.

Madbury town officials also acknowledged the profound effect the incident has had on residents. They extended their support to the Long and Hobson families, as well as friends, neighbors, and colleagues. In an effort to bring the community together, officials announced plans for a candlelight vigil.

Neighbors have also spoken out, describing the tragedy as incomprehensible. Mark Saunders, who lives in the neighborhood, said the incident felt like something that could happen to any family in any community.

Many residents of the cul-de-sac noted that they knew the Longs well and remembered the children recently setting up a lemonade stand. Bill Hall, of nearby Durham, recalled speaking with Emily and buying lemonade from the children just a week earlier.

A few doors down, Beverly Ketel has taken in the family's two dogs to ensure they are cared for until permanent arrangements can be made.

Shannon Zlotkowski, also from Durham, said the loss has left her and many others in the community devastated. She shared plans to leave flowers in the family's memory at schools across the district as a way of honoring them.

Another neighbor shared that the surviving toddler had a deep fondness for the Post Office, often playing with a toy delivery truck and dressing up in a miniature uniform.

Because Moharimet Drive has no through traffic, the children in the neighborhood regularly played together, and the Long children were often seen joining friends nearby with the toy truck.

The same neighbor also recalled that Emily had grown up in the neighborhood before moving away for a time. She eventually returned in recent years when she and her husband purchased their home.

Another resident, Isabella Edwards, who lives on Moharimet Drive but did not know the family personally, said she had just come back from a trip when emergency vehicles and a helicopter arrived in the area. She described the scene as deeply shocking and difficult to comprehend.

Investigators continue searching for answers as they work to determine a motive, while neighbors struggle to come to terms with the loss. The tragedy has shaken the entire community, affecting residents whether they knew the Long family personally or not.

If you or someone you know is considering suicide, please contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255), text "help" to the Crisis Text Line at 741-741, or go to suicidepreventionlifeline.org.