FRANKLIN TOWNSHIP, NJ - Over the weekend, a veterinarian and her boyfriend, a volunteer firefighter, were found dead in a Franklin Township home, and according to authorities, the suspected killer is a New Jersey State Trooper.
Officers discovered 33-year-old Lauren Semanchik and 29-year-old Tyler Webb had been fatally shot in Semanchik's home on Saturday afternoon, 6ABC reported. New Jersey State Trooper Sgt. 1st Class Ricardo Jorge Santos was also later found dead of an apparent suicide in a vehicle in Johnson Park.
Authorities said that Semanchik ended her relationship with Santos in September 2024, but recently accused him of harassing her and exhibiting controlling behavior. She only recently started dating Webb.
Prosecutors called the attack on Semanchik and Webb a "targeted attack," the New York Post reported. Upon finding Santos, a semiautomatic handgun was found beside him. Authorities believe that was the murder weapon. Investigators learned that Frankin Township police officers responded to a 911 call in the area of Semanchik's residence, where "audible gunshots and screaming" were heard by the operator.
Police also learned that Semanchik had installed cameras in her car after reporting that Santos was stalking her.
Footage captured her vehicle leaving her veterinary office at 5:25 p.m. on Friday, August 1st. The rear camera recorded Santos' Mercedes closely following her from her workplace to her house.
Ten minutes after arriving home, someone emerged from the woods bordering her driveway. Nearly a half an hour later, Webb's vehicle arrives at the home and parks next to Semanchik's vehicle.
Semanchik's father was the one who discovered his daughter's and Webb's bodies on Saturday, August 2nd, and it appeared "she was running away" when she was killed. The family recounted the chilling series of events that began after Semanchik ended her relationship with Santos.
Semanchik and Santos had only been dating for three months when she ended the relationship, and soon after began being stalked and "harassed" by the trooper.
He reportedly keyed her car, put recording devices in her home, and water in her gas tank. The family said he harassed her "left and right."
The victim's mother, Jeannine Semanchik, said her daughter tried to make law enforcement aware of her crazy ex, but nothing was ever done to protect her. "A lot of agencies failed her. She tried to get restraining orders. Nobody called her back," the mother said.
Semanchik was a veterinarian at Long Valley Animal Hospital. "Not only was Lauren a phenomenal veterinarian, she was one of the kindest souls you could ever encounter and a friend to us all," a practice manager at the vet officer said. Webb was remembered in a social media post by the Pinewald Pioneer Fire Company, where he volunteered.
"Tyler served our department with dedication and honor. He held the positions of Chief Engineer, Past Lieutenant, and Past Trustee during his time with the company. His contributions to our company and community will never be forgotten," the department said in their post.
Santos once served on Governor Phil Murphy's security detail. He served in the New Jersey State Police's executive protection unit, which guards the governor. He was most recently assigned to the agency's dignitary protection unit, which guards high-ranking state officials.
"We are shocked and devastated by this horrific tragedy," a spokesperson for Murphy said in a statement.
"Due to the law enforcement investigation currently underway, we will refrain from further comment at this time." Hunterdon County Prosecutor Renee Robeson confirmed that the case was being investigated as an act of domestic violence and a targeted double homicide.
Officers discovered 33-year-old Lauren Semanchik and 29-year-old Tyler Webb had been fatally shot in Semanchik's home on Saturday afternoon, 6ABC reported. New Jersey State Trooper Sgt. 1st Class Ricardo Jorge Santos was also later found dead of an apparent suicide in a vehicle in Johnson Park.
Authorities said that Semanchik ended her relationship with Santos in September 2024, but recently accused him of harassing her and exhibiting controlling behavior. She only recently started dating Webb.
Prosecutors called the attack on Semanchik and Webb a "targeted attack," the New York Post reported. Upon finding Santos, a semiautomatic handgun was found beside him. Authorities believe that was the murder weapon. Investigators learned that Frankin Township police officers responded to a 911 call in the area of Semanchik's residence, where "audible gunshots and screaming" were heard by the operator.
Police also learned that Semanchik had installed cameras in her car after reporting that Santos was stalking her.
Footage captured her vehicle leaving her veterinary office at 5:25 p.m. on Friday, August 1st. The rear camera recorded Santos' Mercedes closely following her from her workplace to her house.
Ten minutes after arriving home, someone emerged from the woods bordering her driveway. Nearly a half an hour later, Webb's vehicle arrives at the home and parks next to Semanchik's vehicle.
Semanchik's father was the one who discovered his daughter's and Webb's bodies on Saturday, August 2nd, and it appeared "she was running away" when she was killed. The family recounted the chilling series of events that began after Semanchik ended her relationship with Santos.
Semanchik and Santos had only been dating for three months when she ended the relationship, and soon after began being stalked and "harassed" by the trooper.
He reportedly keyed her car, put recording devices in her home, and water in her gas tank. The family said he harassed her "left and right."
The victim's mother, Jeannine Semanchik, said her daughter tried to make law enforcement aware of her crazy ex, but nothing was ever done to protect her. "A lot of agencies failed her. She tried to get restraining orders. Nobody called her back," the mother said.
Semanchik was a veterinarian at Long Valley Animal Hospital. "Not only was Lauren a phenomenal veterinarian, she was one of the kindest souls you could ever encounter and a friend to us all," a practice manager at the vet officer said. Webb was remembered in a social media post by the Pinewald Pioneer Fire Company, where he volunteered.
"Tyler served our department with dedication and honor. He held the positions of Chief Engineer, Past Lieutenant, and Past Trustee during his time with the company. His contributions to our company and community will never be forgotten," the department said in their post.
Santos once served on Governor Phil Murphy's security detail. He served in the New Jersey State Police's executive protection unit, which guards the governor. He was most recently assigned to the agency's dignitary protection unit, which guards high-ranking state officials.
"We are shocked and devastated by this horrific tragedy," a spokesperson for Murphy said in a statement.
"Due to the law enforcement investigation currently underway, we will refrain from further comment at this time." Hunterdon County Prosecutor Renee Robeson confirmed that the case was being investigated as an act of domestic violence and a targeted double homicide.
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