In a shocking turn of events, the tragic story of a family murder-suicide in Madbury, New Hampshire, has taken a darker twist as new revelations emerge about the mother, Emily Long. On August 18, 2023, authorities discovered the lifeless bodies of 48-year-old Ryan Long, along with their two children, 8-year-old Parker and 6-year-old Ryan. Emily, aged 34, was also found deceased from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. The couple’s toddler son survived the horrific incident, sparking questions about the family’s tumultuous circumstances in the months leading up to this tragedy.
Emily had gained a following on TikTok, where she candidly shared her struggles as a caregiver to her husband, Ryan, who was battling brain cancer. In her posts, she expressed her anxiety over their situation and her desire to maintain a semblance of normalcy for her children. However, behind the facade of a mother coping with a spouse’s severe illness, reports have surfaced detailing a troubling history of financial misconduct.
In the wake of the murders, it was revealed that Emily Long had allegedly embezzled over $660,000 from her employer, a chicken wing restaurant chain in New Hampshire, over a span of just six months. Her employer indicated that he had noticed discrepancies in cash deposits and had intended to confront her about the theft in a meeting scheduled for August 11. Emily did not attend this meeting, and just days later, the tragedy unfolded.
Further investigations have uncovered that this was not Emily’s first offense. A report from the Boston Globe disclosed a previous incident in 2016, where she was accused of stealing approximately $11,000 from a brewpub on Nantucket, Massachusetts, alongside her then-boyfriend. Although that case was dismissed after the pub went out of business, it painted a troubling portrait of a woman with a pattern of financial deceit.
While Emily’s employer suggested that she might have had a shopping addiction, the psychological factors contributing to her actions remain unclear. The combination of financial pressure and the stress of her husband’s illness may have created a perfect storm, leading to the tragic events of that fateful night.
As investigators pieced together the details of the case, they noted the presence of the firearm used in the incident near the bodies, solidifying the conclusion that Emily was responsible for the deaths of her family members before turning the gun on herself. The surviving toddler is now at the center of community support, with a GoFundMe campaign launched to provide for his future needs. The campaign has raised over $150,000, reflecting the outpouring of sympathy and assistance from those touched by the family’s story.
The circumstances surrounding this case are heart-wrenching and complex, raising questions about mental health, familial pressures, and the often-hidden struggles that can lead to such devastating outcomes. While the investigation into Emily Long’s past continues, the community is left to grapple with the loss of life and the fate of the surviving child, who faces an uncertain future in the wake of unimaginable tragedy.
