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A New Hampshire mother allegedly shot and killed her husband and two of their three children before turning the gun on herself in what detectives believe was a gruesome murder-suicide.
Police found the bodies of Emily Long, 34, her husband, Ryan Long, 48, their son Parker, 8, and daughter, Ryan, 6, inside their home in the small town of Madbury on Aug. 18, according to a press release from the office of New Hampshire Attorney General John M. Formella.
A third child, a toddler, was found alive and uninjured in the home.
Each of the victims appeared to have suffered gunshot wounds and were pronounced dead at the scene, the release said.
Autopsies on the victims determined that Ryan Long, the father, was shot multiple times and the two deceased children were each shot once in the head. The manner of death for all three was homicide, according to an Aug. 20 press release from the New Hampshire Department of Justice.
Emily Long died from a single gunshot to the head. Her manner of death was determined to be suicide.
“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,” the release stated.
An investigation into the case is ongoing.
Ryan Long, the father, worked as a school psychologist at Oyster River Middle School, according to the New Hampshire Union Leader.
A family neighbor told the publication that Ryan Long had been diagnosed with brain cancer. A now-private TikTok account belonging to Emily Long identified her as a mother of three and “brain cancer wife,” the New Hampshire Union Leader reported.
Emily Long frequently discussed the stress and grief she and her family had struggled with since her husband’s diagnosis, the publication said.
Investigators have asked the public to refrain from “speculating” about what caused Emily Long to allegedly shoot and kill her family members and herself.
“While investigators are becoming aware of various concerns/issues ongoing in the household at the time of the event in question, people should avoid speculating that this event was caused by a single reason or stressor,” the DOJ press release stated.
Oyster River Superintendent Robert Shaps released a statement about the tragedy on the Oyster River Cooperative School District’s official website.
“The Oyster River Cooperative School District community is heartbroken by the tragic loss of four community members,” said Shaps. “We extend our deepest sympathies to all those impacted during this incredibly difficult time.”
Shaps added that the district had partnered with other local school districts and organizations to provide mental health support for students, families and staff. The district’s school year is set to begin on Aug. 27.
