New Hampshire tragedy reported

A Madbury mother shoots her husband and two children before taking her own life, leaving one young child alive as investigators seek motive.

New Hampshire mother kills husband and two children before taking her own life

Police say Emily Long, 34, shot her husband Ryan and two of their three children at their Madbury home on Monday night before taking her own life. The surviving child, a three-year-old boy, was found unharmed and is in the care of his grandparents as investigators examine what happened. The bodies were found beside a handgun at the residence, and authorities continue to gather details to determine a motive.

The tragedy underscores how caregiver stress, illness, and financial strain can converge in a single moment of crisis. Ryan Long faced a brain cancer diagnosis and a slowing household income, while Emily had recently left a job and faced uncertainty about keeping the home. Such pressures do not excuse violence, but they help explain why families crumble when support networks fail or feel unreachable. Communities must ask whether existing mental health and family services are accessible to those in need and how they respond when warning signs appear.

Highlights

Grief will linger, and the real work is in strengthening support for families at risk.