The brutal murder of Emily Longley, a bright 17-year-old with modelling dreams, in 2011 by boyfriend Elliot Turner, who was 20 at the time, sent shockwaves through her family. Turner strangled Emily in a jealous rage at his parents’ home in Bournemouth, England, and was subsequently sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 16 years for both murder and perverting justice.
Adding to the horror of this crime, Turner’s parents, Leigh and Anita Turner, were convicted of helping hide the murder and interfere with the evidence, which led to their own 27-month prison sentences.
Emily’s parents, Mark and Caroline Longley, and their extended family were left reeling from the loss. The pain of Emily’s absence was unbearable as they grappled with the sudden and violent loss of a cherished family member.
Both Mark and Caroline Longley hail from Bournemouth but moved to New Zealand when Emily was just ten years old. Mark, a journalist, and Caroline, a devoted teacher, could never have imagined the nightmare they would face with Emily’s premature passing.
Despite her immense grief, Caroline bravely took a stand against domestic violence, extending support to families dealing with similar tragedies. The Longleys were recognised for their courage under such tragic circumstances by the judge overseeing Emily’s case, who lauded their composed and dignified conduct. They resolved to keep Emily’s memory alive and fight against the darkness that took their daughter’s life.
In an attempt to process his grief and share his experiences following Emily’s tragic passing, Mark Longley, now living in New Zealand, launched “The Death Podcast”. Recognising the discomfort many people have when discussing topics like loss and grief, Mark created this platform to facilitate open conversations on these subjects.
During one podcast episode, Mark expressed his eventual intention to forgive his daughter’s murderer, despite not yet being emotionally ready for such a monumental act of forgiveness. He pointed out the contradiction between the extensive media coverage of Emily’s death and the silence that often surrounds personal interactions about the loss, due to people’s fear of saying the wrong thing.
Furthermore, Mark debunked the notion that time could alleviate the deep sadness brought on by Emily’s passing. He likened grief to an unwanted houseguest, stressing the importance of managing loss-related emotions rather than expecting them to disappear completely.
The Longleys’ devastating loss underscores the lasting pain inflicted by thoughtless acts of violence. Emily Longley’s parents, Mark and Caroline Longley, demonstrate resilience in their grief, as they carry on without Emily. Mark has found some measure of comfort through his unique podcast, which provides a pathway to manage, not overcome, the enduring grief of losing his beloved daughter.
