A tragic scene unfolded Monday night in Madbury, New Hampshire, as police discovered the bodies of Emily Long, her husband Ryan Long, and their two children, Parker Long, 8, and Ryan Long Jr., 6, in their home on Moharimet Drive.
Authorities are treating the deaths as a suspected murder-suicide, though investigations are ongoing. A third child, a toddler, was found alive and unharmed, according to the Attorney General’s Office, but their identity has not been released.
Police received 911 calls late Monday evening and arrived at the home around 8:20 p.m., where they found all four deceased family members. “Each of the deceased family members appears to have suffered gunshot wounds, and were pronounced dead at the scene.
Detectives continue to investigate this event as a potential murder-suicide,” a police news release stated. Autopsies for the victims are scheduled to take place at the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Concord, with officials hoping the results will clarify the exact sequence of events and cause of death.
Ryan Long, 48, had been a dedicated school psychologist with the Oyster River Cooperative School District for the past nine years. He also served as a part-time adjunct instructor in Plymouth State University’s Graduate Programs since 2022, according to his LinkedIn profile.
Ryan Long was a licensed school psychologist and a board-certified behavioral analyst, demonstrating his years of experience and commitment to supporting students’ mental health.
School officials confirmed they had been notified by police Monday night but declined further comment, referring inquiries to the district superintendent. Emily Long, 34, had graduated from the University of New Hampshire with a degree in hospitality management and from Oyster River High School.
Her LinkedIn profile indicated that she was actively seeking a new career opportunity in areas such as business development, executive assistance, people operations, or operations management.
Most recently, she had worked as Director of Operations at Wing-itz Restaurant Group. Friends and colleagues remember her as a driven professional and loving mother.
The Long family’s Facebook pages painted a picture of a close-knit and joyful household. Recent posts, including festive photos, offered no hint of the turmoil that may have led to this catastrophic event.
The sudden and violent nature of the deaths has sent shockwaves through the Madbury community, where neighbors, friends, and colleagues are struggling to comprehend the loss.
Senior Assistant Attorney General Benjamin Agati emphasized the importance of the forthcoming autopsies. “We are very hopeful tomorrow’s autopsy results will be able to discern the cause and manner of death, and the sequence of events right now is crucial for investigators to understand. We do believe at this time that the deaths occurred sometime on Monday the 18th,” Agati said.
Authorities are urging anyone with additional information regarding the incident to come forward to assist with the ongoing investigation. The Madbury community, Oyster River School District, and all who knew the Long family are grappling with a profound sense of loss, as questions about the circumstances surrounding this tragedy remain.
While the autopsies and investigation continue, the heartbreaking story of Emily, Ryan, Parker, and Ryan Jr. underscores the fragility of life and the impact of sudden, senseless violence on families and communities.
