Tragic Incident in Madbury
On Monday evening, August 18, 2025, New Hampshire State Police responded to a call at a home on Moharimet Drive in Madbury, discovering the bodies of Emily Long, 34, her husband Ryan Long, 48, and their two eldest children, Parker, 8, and Ryan, 6. Authorities say Emily Long shot her terminally ill husband, their two children, and then herself in a suspected murder-suicide. The couple’s youngest child, aged 3, was found unharmed in the home.
Details of the Shooting
According to New Hampshire Attorney General John Formella, Emily Long used a handgun from the home to fatally shoot her husband, who was battling aggressive brain cancer, and their two eldest children before taking her own life. Autopsies confirmed that Parker and Ryan Jr. died from single gunshots to the head, while Ryan Long succumbed to multiple gunshot wounds. Emily Long also died from a single gunshot to the head.
Emily Long’s Struggles Shared Online
Days before the tragedy, Emily Long, known on TikTok as a “Brain Cancer Wife” with over 170,000 followers, shared her feelings of loneliness and anxiety on the platform. In videos now private, she discussed her husband’s glioblastoma treatment, his seizures, and her fears of becoming a single mother. “I feel very, very lonely. I feel so anxious,” she said, admitting she needed therapy and felt herself “withering away.” She also noted her children’s struggles, particularly her 3-year-old’s behavioral changes.
Community in Shock
The Madbury community, located an hour and a half north of Boston, is reeling from the loss. Neighbor Bevy Ketel described the Longs as a “perfect family” and Ryan Long as a “pillar” of the community. Ryan worked as a school psychologist in the Oyster River Cooperative School District, while Emily was an operations director for Wing-Itz, a local restaurant group, and was seeking new job opportunities. The small town mourns the family’s devastating loss.
Mental Health and Ongoing Investigation
The tragedy underscores the need for mental health support, with authorities urging those in crisis to contact the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. The investigation continues, with no further details released to respect the family’s privacy. The surviving 3-year-old is now in the care of relatives, as the community grapples with the profound impact of this unimaginable loss.
