By John Q. Hosedrinker 
A New Hampshire woman who fatally shot her husband and two children before taking her own life was under investigation for allegedly stealing from her employer, Wing-Itz, where she worked as the director of operations. A complaint was filed accusing Emily Long of theft from the chicken wing chain just seven days before the murder-suicide. The owner of Wing-Itz, Derek Fisher, reported that Long was suspected of embezzling approximately $660,000, and he confronted her with the information before she resigned. Authorities are still investigating the motive behind the tragic events, with the attorney general’s office cautioning against assuming a single cause.
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The devastating news of a New Hampshire woman killing her husband and two children in a murder-suicide is truly heartbreaking, and the fact that she was suspected of embezzling money from her employer adds another layer of complexity to the tragedy. It’s difficult to wrap your head around the choices that led to such a horrific outcome, and the details that are emerging are deeply unsettling.
One of the most striking aspects of this case is the sheer rarity of a woman committing family annihilation. It’s a stark reminder of how unpredictable and devastating human actions can be. This isn’t to say that the gender of the perpetrator somehow makes the crime more or less horrific; it’s simply a statistical anomaly that highlights the complexities of the situation.
The employer’s reaction also provides a measure of perspective amidst the despair. The owner showed incredible compassion, offering multiple opportunities for the woman to address the allegations and even deciding not to pursue recovering the stolen funds. Instead, whatever remained will go to the surviving child, which is an extraordinary act of generosity in the face of such loss.
When considering the potential motivations behind such a crime, the financial strain coupled with her husband’s illness, and perhaps the shame and fear of facing criminal charges, would have been an overwhelming combination. Some research suggests that these tragic events aren’t just about money; they’re often rooted in a twisted sense of “virtue,” whether it’s a desire for justice, a sense of duty, or a misguided attempt to protect the family from perceived hardship. The husband’s illness certainly adds another layer of emotional turmoil that likely contributed to her decision.
The fact that the potential punishment for financial crimes is relatively light, perhaps a few years in prison at most, makes you wonder if suicide alone wouldn’t have been the better option. People in similar situations are, sadly, often able to return to the companies they stole from after completing a sentence, working and commuting to and from jail at night. It begs the question of whether they weigh their choices rationally or whether it’s an immediate, panicked reaction to avoid the consequences of their actions. The fear of financial ruin and the social stigma that would come with incarceration might have felt unbearable.
The woman’s actions, and the tragic circumstances surrounding them, serve as a reminder of the human capacity for both immense love and profound darkness. It’s also a harsh example of how financial pressures can push people to the edge. It really makes you wonder how many factors contributed to her ultimate decision.
It is noteworthy that she had been stealing a very large sum of money over an extended period without getting caught sooner. The fact that the owner’s stepping back for health reasons allowed for a greater opportunity for the embezzlement to occur is also a sad detail. While some employers and companies might meticulously audit their finances, the article mentions that it took two years for someone to notice this behavior. When running a small business, setting aside time monthly to review the books, or implementing additional measures to ensure the accuracy of accounting, are all critical to the business’s success.
It’s crucial to remember that there’s no excuse for taking the lives of innocent family members. It’s an unfathomable tragedy and underscores the importance of mental health support and intervention for those facing overwhelming challenges.