A toddler was the sole survivor after a family was found dead in their New Hampshire home in what police suspect to be a murder-suicide. 

Shortly after 8pm on Friday, police found that four members of the Long family were shot dead in their residence in Madbury, a small community just over an hour away from Boston.

Ryan Long, aged 48, his wife Emily, 34, their 8-year-old son Parker, and their 6-year-old daughter Ryan, were discovered lifeless inside their home and declared deceased at the scene, New Hampshire Attorney General John Formella reported in a statement released on Tuesday.

Their three-year-old toddler was found alive with no injuries and the orphaned toddler is now in the care of family.  

Investigators also found a gun near the family at the scene, CBS News reported.  

‘It was shocking,’ neighbor Bevy Ketel told CBS affiliate WBZ-TV. ‘It was a perfect family as far as we knew.’

‘[Ryan] certainly made a significant impact on numerous people. He was an integral part of the community, and his family’s involvement was equally significant… It’s absolutely shocking. It was completely unexpected.’

The investigation into the tragedy is ongoing with autopsies scheduled to be performed on Wednesday. 

At just after 8pm on Friday cops discovered that four members of the Long family had been fatally shot in Madbury, an hour away from Boston 

Ryan Long, 48, his wife Emily, 34, son Parker, 8, and daughter Ryan, 6, were found and pronounced dead inside their home 

The family had experienced hardships during the summer after Ryan Long was diagnosed with terminal brain cancer, as revealed in a video diary shared by his wife Emily.

‘One of the main questions officials face is about the motive… It’s possibly one of the more challenging aspects they are trying to comprehend,’ NH Assistant Attorney General Ben Agati expressed to WCAX.

Just days ago on Saturday Emily Long updated her TikTok account.

Her social media page featured a series of videos where she discussed her family’s journey in coping with her husband Ryan’s terminal brain cancer diagnosis.

Ryan suffered from glioblastoma, one of the most aggressive and common types of brain cancer. Often, those diagnosed with the cancer pass away within six months. 

Emily’s first post about her husband’s diagnosis and her own mental struggle was uploaded on April 23. 

On May 11, Emily uploaded a video captioned: ‘Want to watch someone actually fall apart before your very eyes? I swear, this cancer will be the thing that breaks me.’

In her latest update, Emily declared that she was trying to make changes to get herself out of a ‘rut.’ 

‘I put makeup on and real clothes for the first time… in god only knows how long. I’m trying to get myself out of this rut, I know I’ve said this before but our kids are definitely struggling.’ 

The couple’s youngest child, a three-year-old, was found alive and suffered no injuries

Ryan Long was diagnosed with glioblastoma, one of the most aggressive types of brain cancer

In a video posted to social media Emily declared that she was trying to make changes to get herself out of a ‘rut’

Emily then explained how she noticed that her youngest child was struggling to sleep and crying, which she was described as ‘devastating.’

‘It’s important for my kids to be with their friends, and I have been struggling so much and really depressed and just have really become reclusive,’ she continued. 

‘That being said I am making a change. It is starting today… I need to become more social again.

‘So hold me to it. Today I am adjusting my perspective and I’m making a point to get out of my depression and do this for my family.

‘That being said: Happy Saturday. I hope everyone’s having a fantastic day. I am going to have a fantastic day,’ she concluded.   

Several videos depicted the Long family’s struggles after the diagnosis and commented on the support they had received from the local community.