Top Cops In NJ Town Rocked By Double Murder Removed Over 'Serious Concerns'

FRANKLIN, NJ — The Hunterdon County Prosecutor's Office(HCPO) has taken over the Franklin Township Police Department(FTPD) following the double murder of veterinarian Lauren Semanchik and her firefighter boyfriend, Tyler Webb.

The takeover is effective immediately, where the HCPO will supervise the day-to-day operations of FTPD until further notice.

"HCPO has determined that supersession of FTPD is immediately necessary following its active investigation into the homicides in the Pittstown section of Franklin Township on or about August 1, 2025, which has raised serious concerns about FTPD’s operations and effectiveness," according to the HCPO on Thursday.

The Prosecutor's Office will manage the police department through the leadership of interim Officer-in-Charge, HCPO Captain Paul Approvato.

Additionally, Franklin Township Police Chief Timothy Snyder and Sergeant Kevin Bollaro are being placed on administrative leave by the Township of Franklin.

The investigations into the homicides and FTPD are ongoing.

Double Murder and Suicide

Authorities said Dr. Lauren Semanchik, 33, of Pittstown, and Tyler Webb, 29, of Forked River were both killed by Semanchik's ex-boyfriend, Ricardo Jorge Santos over the weekend. Santos was a sergeant first class of the New Jersey State Police, Hunterdon County Prosecutor Renée Robeson said.

On Monday night, Robeson released an account of what led to the apparent double homicide of Semanchik and Webb at Semanchik's home in the Pittstown section of Franklin Township this past weekend.

Semanchik, a local veterinarian, and Webb, a firefighter, recently began dating. Semanchik previously dated Santos, said Robeson.

After ending her relationship with Santos in September 2024, Semanchik alleged that Santos continued with harassing and controlling behavior.

According to NJ Advance Media, her mother said that Semanchik had called local police to file a restraining order, and that one was not issued.

Semanchik installed a video surveillance recording system in her vehicle, which detectives were able to access and review following her death.

Here is the timeline of what her camera footage shows detailing what led up to the deaths:

• On Friday, Aug. 1 at around 5:25 p.m., the footage depicts Semanchik’s vehicle leaving her job in Long Valley, Morris County
• The footage from the vehicle’s rear shows a white 2008 Mercedes SUV leaving a parking space and closely following Semanchik from Long Valley to Upper Kingtown Road until she turns into her driveway at around 5:57 p.m.
• At around 6:11 p.m., while Semanchik’s vehicle is parked, a person is seen surreptitiously walking through the wooded area along the driveway leading up to the home.
• At around 6:45 p.m., Webb’s vehicle arrives at the home and parks next to Semanchik’s vehicle.
• At 7:08 p.m., 911 calls reported audible gunshots and screaming in the area of Upper Kingtown Road
• Franklin Township Police Department responded, checked the area, but did not locate the source of the gunshots or screaming.
• It wasn't until Saturday at around 12:22 p.m., when Franklin Township police officers responded to a 911 call reporting an unconscious woman with apparent physical trauma at a home on Upper Kingtown Road in the Pittstown section of Franklin Township, Hunterdon County.
• Officers found two dead people, Semanchik and Webb, who showed apparent gunshot wounds in what investigators believe was a targeted act

The same white 2008 Mercedes SUV that followed Semanchik’s vehicle drove to Piscataway later that night, according to authorities.

Santos was later found dead alone and inside the white 2008 Mercedes SUV in Johnson Park in Piscataway, Middlesex County.

Further investigation found that Santos suffered from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, which the Office of the Middlesex County Medical Examiner has preliminarily determined to be a suicide. A semiautomatic handgun was also located inside the vehicle, according to authorities.

Anyone with information relating to the homicide investigation is asked to contact HCPO Detective Sergeant David Petelle or Detective Quayshaun Brooks at 908-788-1129.

Information may also be provided through the Hunterdon County Crime Stoppers Tip Line at 1-800-321-0010. All anonymous reports and Crime Stopper tips will be kept confidential.

Anyone with information relating to the investigation into the Department may contact HCPO Detective Sergeant Kelsey Marsh of the Professional Standards Unit at 908-788-1129 or hcpoia@co.hunterdon.nj.us.

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