New Hampshire family tragedy linked to online posts

A mother and two children are dead in a suspected murder suicide in Madbury after the mother posted about the family’s struggles on TikTok.

TikTok Posts Highlight Family Tragedy in New Hampshire

In Madbury, New Hampshire, investigators say four family members died from gunshot wounds at a home in the early hours of Monday. The deceased are Emily Long, 34, her husband Ryan Long, 48, and their children Parker, 8, and Ryan, 6. A toddler survived and was unharmed. Police say the deaths appear to be a murder suicide, with further autopsy results confirming that Emily Long’s gunshot wound was self-inflicted.

Authorities note that Emily Long had been posting on TikTok about the family’s challenges after Ryan Long’s diagnosis with glioblastoma, a form of brain cancer. Her posts have since been made private. Investigators say the event remains under review as they seek to understand the sequence of events and any contributing factors tied to the family’s private life and public online presence.

This case underscores how private stress can leak into the public sphere through social media, especially when a family faces a serious illness. Caregivers often carry heavy burdens with limited visible support, and public online posts can blur lines between coping and seeking help. The tragedy invites questions about what safeguards exist for people posting about distress and what role platforms should play in offering resources. It also highlights the risk that sensational online attention can overwhelm a family already dealing with grief.

Beyond the immediate crime, the incident prompts a broader reflection on how communities respond to caregiver fatigue, the stigma around mental health, and the responsibilities of newsrooms and platforms when reporting on private tragedies that unfold in public view.

Highlights

The path from private pain to public attention is a dangerous one without timely support.