A quiet New Hampshire town was left reeling after a devastating discovery Friday evening.
Four members of the Long family were found dead in their home in Madbury, leaving only their three-year-old toddler alive.
Police are investigating the incident as a suspected murder-suicide.
The Victims
Authorities identified the victims as Ryan Long, 48; his wife Emily, 34; their son Parker, 8; and their daughter, also named Ryan, 6.
The children’s toddler sibling was found unharmed and is now in the care of extended family.
A firearm was reportedly recovered at the scene, according to CBS News.
Neighbors described the family as “perfect” and were stunned by the news.
“Ryan certainly touched a lot of lives,” one neighbor said. “It’s just shocking. We didn’t see it coming.”
A Family Facing Cancer
In the weeks leading up to the tragedy, Emily Long had been documenting her family’s journey on TikTok as they coped with Ryan Long’s diagnosis of glioblastoma, a particularly aggressive form of brain cancer.
Posts from April through August revealed her struggles with depression and concern for her children’s wellbeing amid her husband’s illness.
Emily had recently shared that she was trying to regain some normalcy.
“I put makeup on and real clothes for the first time… I’m trying to get myself out of this rut,” she wrote in one update.
She spoke about wanting to be more social for the sake of her kids, who were struggling emotionally.
The Investigation Continues
New Hampshire officials are still working to understand the motive behind the tragedy.
Autopsies were scheduled to be performed on Wednesday, with investigators trying to piece together what led to the horrific events.
Assistant Attorney General Ben Agati commented: “One of the biggest questions right now is motive… it’s probably one of the more difficult things that they are trying to grasp.”
Community Remembers the Long Family
The Long family had been active in their local community, and neighbors are still coming to terms with the loss.
Emily’s TikTok videos highlighted not only the family’s struggles but also the support they received from friends and neighbors, making the tragedy even more heart-wrenching for the town.
