Authorities say a toddler survived after four family members were found dead inside a Madbury home.
MADBURY, N.H. — A New Hampshire woman fatally shot her husband and two children before taking her own life inside the family’s home, investigators said, as authorities continued working to determine what led to the deaths that shocked the small Seacoast community.
The deaths of Emily Long, 34, her husband Ryan Long, 48, and their children Parker Long, 8, and Ryan Long, 6, were discovered after authorities responded to a home on Moharimet Drive on Aug. 18. A toddler was found alive and physically unharmed inside the residence. State investigators said the deaths resulted from gunshot wounds and have ruled the three family members’ deaths homicides and Emily Long’s death a suicide.
According to investigators, the shootings occurred during the early morning hours of Aug. 18. Authorities said Emily Long used a handgun from inside the home and shot her husband and two children before fatally shooting herself. Officials later said the gunfire appears to have occurred around 5:30 a.m. The deaths were not discovered until later that evening, when New Hampshire State Police and other emergency personnel responded to a 911 call reporting multiple people dead inside the residence. Investigators entered the home and found the four victims. As the case unfolded, state officials identified the victims and began conducting autopsies to establish how each person died. The findings helped investigators reconstruct what they believe occurred inside the home before the emergency call was made.
Autopsy results showed that Ryan Long died from multiple gunshot wounds. The two children each suffered a single gunshot wound to the head. Medical examiners ruled all three deaths homicides. Emily Long died from a single gunshot wound to the head, and her death was ruled a suicide. Officials have emphasized that the investigation remains active and that detectives continue reviewing evidence, interviews and records connected to the family. Assistant Attorney General Ben Agati said investigators are examining a range of circumstances that may have existed inside the household before the killings. Authorities cautioned against drawing conclusions based on a single factor. While information has surfaced publicly regarding health concerns, financial pressures and family stress, investigators said determining motive requires a broader review of evidence and remains one of the most important unanswered questions in the case.
The deaths reverberated throughout the community because of the family’s ties to local schools and businesses. Ryan Long worked as a school psychologist in the Oyster River school district, where colleagues and community members mourned the loss. School officials described the deaths as heartbreaking and said support resources were being prepared for students, staff and families affected by the tragedy. Emily Long was employed by a regional restaurant company and had been active on social media, where she discussed challenges facing her family. In videos posted before the shootings, she spoke about her husband’s treatment for glioblastoma, an aggressive form of brain cancer, and the emotional strain the illness placed on family life. She also discussed struggles with depression and concerns about how the situation was affecting the children. Investigators have not identified any single issue as the cause of the killings.
State authorities continue to gather records and conduct interviews as they work toward completing the investigation. No criminal charges are expected because investigators believe the suspected shooter died at the scene. Instead, the case will likely conclude with a final investigative report detailing evidence, timelines and findings. Officials have said additional information could emerge as detectives review medical, financial and digital records. The surviving toddler was removed from the home and placed with relatives. Authorities have not publicly disclosed detailed custody arrangements, citing privacy concerns and the child’s age. Investigators have repeatedly stressed that conclusions about motive should wait until the review is complete and all available evidence has been examined.
Neighbors and residents in Madbury described the deaths as difficult to comprehend in a town where violent crime is uncommon. The family’s home became the focus of a large law-enforcement presence as investigators documented the scene and collected evidence. Community members left messages of support and expressed sympathy for relatives coping with the loss of four family members at once. Friends, colleagues and local organizations offered condolences as details emerged. Public officials acknowledged the widespread grief generated by the case and noted that many questions remain unanswered. Even as investigators piece together the final hours before the shootings, residents continue searching for understanding in a tragedy that claimed nearly an entire family and left one young child as the sole survivor.
The investigation remains open, and authorities say additional findings may be released as evidence reviews continue. For now, officials maintain that the motive has not been determined and that a final report will provide the next significant update in the case.
Author note: Last updated June 4, 2026.