Tragic Incident in New Jersey Involving State Trooper
A New Jersey state trooper, who had previously been assigned to protect the governor, was involved in a tragic incident that resulted in the deaths of his ex-girlfriend and her new boyfriend.
On August 2, police discovered the bodies of Lauren Semanchik and Tyler Webb at their home after receiving a call regarding an unconscious woman. According to reports from the Hunterdon County Prosecutor, New Jersey State Police Lt. Colonel Ricardo Santos was later found deceased in his vehicle, with a handgun, and authorities suspect suicide. Santos had worked in the protective detail for Governor Phil Murphy prior to this event.
The Franklin Township Police responded to several 911 calls on August 1, where witnesses reported “audible gunshots and screams.” However, officers were unable to pinpoint the source of the sounds at that time.
The couple’s bodies were discovered by Semanchik’s father, and her sister later expressed to CBS News that, “She was running away. She was shot in the back.” Deana Semanchik shared more about her sister, stating, “She gave other people a lot of her life and she had very much better values,” highlighting the kind of person Lauren was.
According to family members, Semanchik had ended her relationship with Santos nearly a year prior. They also mentioned that he began to harass her post-breakup, engaging in troubling behaviors such as filling her gas tank with water and placing recording devices in her home.
Deanna Semanchik added, “She tried to block him multiple times and he kept calling her from restricted numbers. He showed up at her job, where the car was, where the keys were received.” This paints a concerning picture of their relationship after the split.
A spokesperson for Governor Murphy expressed their shock and sadness over the incident, stating, “We are shocked and devastated by this horrifying tragedy. We will refrain from further comment at this point due to the ongoing law enforcement investigation.”
Lauren Semanchik was known to work as a veterinarian, while Tyler Webb was a firefighter at the Pinewald Pioneer Volunteer Fire Company.
