Investigators consider a New Jersey State Police sergeant killed his ex-girlfriend and her boyfriend earlier than taking his personal life.
The investigation started on Saturday, Aug. 2, round 12:20 p.m. Police responded to a report of an unconscious lady inside a house on Higher Kingtown Street within the Pittstown part of Franklin Township, Hunterdon County, New Jersey.
If you happen to or somebody is experiencing home violence, contact the Nationwide Home Violence Hotline by calling 1-800-799-SAFE (7233), visiting www.thehotline.org or texting LOVEIS to 22522.
When police arrived on the residence, they discovered the our bodies of Dr. Lauren Semanchik, 33, of Pittstown and Tyler Webb, 29, of Forked River, New Jersey. Each victims have been affected by obvious gunshot wounds.
Investigators discovered that Hunterdon County Communications initially obtained 911 calls the day earlier than on Friday, Aug. 1, reporting the sounds of gunshots and screaming from the house. When Franklin Township Police responded Friday nonetheless, they couldn’t discover the supply of the gunshots or screaming, officers stated.
Investigators then discovered that Dr. Semanchik, a neighborhood veterinarian, and Webb had not too long ago started courting. Dr. Semanchik had beforehand dated Ricardo Jorge Santos, a New Jersey State Police sergeant, however ended their relationship in September 2024. Earlier than her loss of life, Dr. Semanchik accused Santos of harassing her and controlling conduct, investigators stated. Detectives then recognized Santos as a suspect within the double homicide.
Detectives later discovered Santos was discovered useless inside a white 2008 Mercedes SUV in Johnson Park in Piscataway, Middlesex County, New Jersey. Investigators decided he died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound and his loss of life was dominated a suicide. Investigators additionally stated they discovered a semiautomatic handgun contained in the automobile.
If you happen to or somebody is in disaster, name or textual content 988 to succeed in the Suicide and Disaster Lifeline or chat dwell at 988lifeline.org. You can even go to SpeakingOfSuicide.com/assets for extra assist.
Police then reviewed surveillance video that Dr. Semanchik had put in inside her automobile. The footage exhibits Dr. Semanchik’s automobile leaving her office in Lengthy Valley, Morris County, New Jersey, on Aug. 1, round 5:25 p.m. The footage from the again of her automobile then exhibits a white 2008 Mercedes SUV leaving a parking zone and carefully following Dr. Semanchik from Lengthy Valley to Higher Kingtown Street in Pittstown till she enters her driveaway shortly earlier than 6 p.m. Then round 6:10 p.m. that night, an individual is noticed strolling by a wooded space alongside the driveway resulting in the house. Round 6:45 p.m. that evening, Webb’s automobile arrives on the residence and parks subsequent to Dr. Semanchik’s automobile, the footage exhibits.
Detectives decided the white 2008 Mercedes SUV then traveled to Piscataway, New Jersey, later that evening.
The Hunterdon County Prosecutor’s Workplace continues to analyze the double murder however stated that nothing suggests any hazard to the general public.
“We extend our deepest condolences to the families and loved ones of Dr. Lauren Semanchik and Tyler Webb, whose lives were tragically taken in an act of domestic violence. This senseless and devastating loss has deeply affected our entire community,” Hunterdon County Prosecutor Renée Robeson stated. “Considering the suspect’s subsequent suicide, we recognize that many questions remain, and healing will take time. While justice in the legal sense may not proceed, our commitment to supporting survivors and preventing future tragedies remains unwavering.”
You probably have any info on the investigation, please name Hunterdon County Prosecutor’s Workplace Detective Sergeant David Petelle or Detective Quayshaun Brooks at 908-788-1129. You can even contact the Hunterdon County Crime Stoppers Tip Line at 1-800-321-0010.
