MADBURY, N.H. — A sense of disbelief and grief has settled over the quiet town of Madbury after authorities confirmed the deaths of four family members in what investigators are calling an apparent murder-suicide.
Late Monday evening, police responded to a home on Moharimet Drive, where they discovered the bodies of Emily Long, 34; her husband, Ryan Long, 48; their 8-year-old son, Parker; and their 6-year-old daughter, Ryan. All four had suffered fatal gunshot wounds.
In the midst of unimaginable tragedy, a toddler was found alive inside the home. Authorities confirmed the child was physically unharmed and has since been placed in protective custody.
The New Hampshire Attorney General’s Office and State Police Major Crime Unit are leading the investigation. While officials have not yet released details on who fired the fatal shots, early evidence points to a murder-suicide. Autopsies are underway to determine the official causes and manners of death.
For the town of just over 1,800 residents, the news has been nothing short of devastating. Neighbors described the Long family as quiet but warm, the kind of people who waved hello from their yard. The sudden loss of not just parents, but two young children, has left the community reeling.
“This is something we can’t even begin to understand,” one resident said, her voice breaking. “Those children were so young. It’s heartbreaking to know their lives were cut short in such a way.”
The Oyster River Cooperative School District, where Parker and Ryan were enrolled, has mobilized grief counselors to help classmates and staff process the tragedy. District leaders called the deaths “unimaginable,” urging families to lean on each other for strength.
Authorities have not yet discussed a motive, but officials stressed the importance of mental health awareness, reminding residents that support systems exist for those in crisis. “If you are struggling, please reach out for help,” one state official urged. “This tragedy is a reminder of just how vital it is to seek support in the darkest moments.”
Perhaps the most haunting element of the tragedy is the survival of the Longs’ youngest child. Though safe, the toddler now faces life without parents or siblings. Community members have already expressed an outpouring of support, pledging donations, care, and resources to ensure the child is surrounded by love in the days ahead.
In the coming days, residents are expected to gather for vigils to honor Emily, Ryan, Parker, and young Ryan. For now, however, the town sits in shock, mourning lives lost and struggling with questions that may never have clear answers.
What remains certain is the depth of heartbreak in Madbury, a community now bound by grief, compassion, and the hope that healing, however distant, will someday come.