Warning: This article contains discussion of suicide which some readers may find distressing.
Authorities have issued an update regarding the young toddler who survived after his mother, Emily Long, allegedly shot her husband, who had terminal cancer, and two of their children before taking her own life.
Emily, aged 34, had previously shared her experiences on TikTok about her husband’s battle with brain cancer, expressing in one video her desire to “hide under a blanket with [her] kids,” before realizing that was “not healthy.”
Ryan Long, aged 48, was diagnosed with glioblastoma, a severe form of brain tumor.
Tragedy struck on the morning of August 18, 2025, when Ryan, Emily, and their children Parker, eight, and Ryan, six, were discovered deceased in their Madbury residence.
Autopsies determined that the two children succumbed to single gunshot wounds to the head, while Ryan was shot multiple times. The deaths of the father and two children were classified as homicides.
Emily’s death was due to a single gunshot wound to the head, and it was ruled a suicide.
Their youngest child, still a toddler, was left unharmed. Assistant Attorney General Ben Agati confirmed that the toddler is now living with other family members in a “safe environment.”
The New Hampshire Department of Justice recently released a statement detailing the suspected sequence of events leading to the family members’ deaths.
The statement noted: “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.
“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.”
Agati mentioned that the investigation is exploring whether financial issues or the family’s health situation could have influenced the events, stating: “I think the big thing is to try not to speculate that there’s any one reason why something like this would happen. Homicide and suicide is usually much, much more complex than just one reason.
“There’s still more information that we’re trying to gather to narrow down different things.”
If you or someone you know is struggling or in a mental health crisis, help is available through Mental Health America. Call or text 988 or chat 988lifeline.org. You can also reach the Crisis Text Line by texting MHA to 741741.
If you or someone you know needs mental health assistance right now, call National Suicide Prevention Helpline on 1-800-273-TALK (8255). The Helpline is a free, confidential crisis hotline that is available to everyone 24 hours a day, seven days a week.