Latest news with #Semanchik
Hindustan Times
6 days ago
- Hindustan Times
Who was Lauren Semanchik? GoFundMe launched to support New Jersey vet fatally shot by state trooper ex-boyfriend
A New Jersey State Police lieutenant who once served on Governor Phil Murphy's security detail is facing murder charges after allegedly following his ex-girlfriend home from work and fatally shooting her and her new boyfriend on Friday evening. The girl is identified as Dr. Lauren Semanchik, and her new boyfriend is Tyler Webb, as reported by NBC News. Dr. Lauren Semanchik and Tyler Webb were found dead; the police lieutenant accused of their murder was later found deceased in his SUV.( According to a news release shared by the Hunterdon County Prosecutor's Office, the incident occurred near a residence in the Pittstown section of Franklin Township. The two were found dead on Saturday with apparent gunshot wounds. The prosecutors said that Police Lt. Ricardo Jorge Santos is accused of Semanchik and Webb's murder before he killed himself. He was found dead inside a White Mercedes SUV, which was parked in Piscataway. Also Read: Tacoma shooting: Man dead, woman injured as gunfire erupts at MultiCare Allenmore Hospital About Lauren Semanchik The 33-year-old Semanchik was a veterinarian by profession. She grew up in Tewksbury, NJ, and began her career as a Veterinarian with her job at Oldwick Animal Hospital while she was still in high school, as reported by The Bergen Record. Shemanchik went on to earn her Microbiology degree, and then her veterinary degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Dr. Semanchik was especially passionate about geriatric and end-of-life care, internal medicine, and dentistry, and she participated in community outreach to support both pets and people. According to a GoFundMe page set up for Shemanchik, she was working at Long Valley Animal Hospital, and the account was set up by her team there. Also Read: 2 Indian nationals crossing international border illegally apprehended by US Border Patrol agents in Bridgewater Her colleagues shared that Shemanchik was 'Deeply and unequivocally loved by her family, friends, co-workers, clients, furry patients, classmates, and anyone who had the pleasure of conversing with her or getting a glimpse of her rockstar smile and genuine kindness," according to her Go FundMe page which has raised $61,366 so far of their $70,000 target.
New York Post
05-08-2025
- New York Post
NJ state trooper who killed ex and her new boyfriend was once reported for manipulating overtime rules to juice salary to over $400K, suit alleges
The New Jersey State Police sergeant who shot his ex-girlfriend and her new beau before turning the gun on himself manipulated departmental rules restricting overtime to draw a salary of over $400,000 per year, details in a lawsuit allege. Sgt. First Class Ricardo Santos, 45, committed the heinous slayings after stalking and harassing his ex, 33-year-old veterinarian Lauren Semanchik, according to cops. 3 Veterinarian Lauren Semanchik and firefighter Tyler Webb were shot to death by her jealous ex-boyfriend, New Jersey State Police sergeant first class Ricardo Santos. Courtesy Webb Family The bitter ex followed Semanchik from her job to her home in Franklin Township, N.J. on Saturday night and was lying in wait for her new boyfriend, firefighter Tyler Webb, 29, to pull into the driveway. Santos then killed them both in the house, before he drove some 50 miles away to a Piscataway park where he parked his 2008 white Mercedes and took his own life, prosecutors said. 3 Webb was a longtime member of the Pinewald Fire Company. Pinewald Pioneer Fire Co. But less than two years ago, Santos was allegedly flying high, earning approximately four times the average salary of an NJ state trooper, according to GlassDoor figures. In a 2023 discrimination lawsuit against the State of New Jersey, the New Jersey State Police and three members of the department's top brass, fellow state trooper Claire Krauchuk alleged she was penalized after she divulged that Santos had been cheating the department's overtime rules. Krauchuk reported Santos for violating standard operating procedure by 'adjusting his hours within the e-daily system' so he could get around a restriction capping overtime at six hours, the suit alleges. 3 The killings took place at Semanchik's Franklin Township, N.J. home By using this method, Santos — who was not mentioned in the suit outside of this context — was able to juice his salary to the tune of over $400,000, according to the suit, which was brought by four current and former employees of the department. Santos had not been charged with any wrongdoing, the lawsuit noted. After reporting Santos, Krauchuk was removed from her post in the Executive Protection Unit and from Governor Phil Murphy's detail, in which Santos had also served. Santos and Semanchik dated for approximately three months before she ended things last September. After the break-up, Santos allegedly wouldn't stop contacting her, to the point her mother, Jennie, attempted to file a restraining order against him with the Franklin Township Police, according to NJ Advance Media. However, no restraining order was ever granted. Franklin Township Police did not immediately respond to a message from The Post asking about the alleged attempt at securing a restraining order or whether one was denied.
International Business Times
05-08-2025
- International Business Times
Who Was Ricardo Santos? NJ State Trooper Who Was Once Assigned to Protect the Governor Kills Ex-Girlfriend, Her Boyfriend Before Killing Self
A New Jersey state trooper, who had previously been assigned to protect the governor, shot and killed his ex-girlfriend and her new boyfriend before taking his own life, after months of stalking her after their breakup. Law enforcement has since launched an investigation into the deaths and ruled the incident a case of murder-suicide. Franklin Township police responded to a home in Pittstown at around 12:20 p.m. on Saturday after receiving a report about an unresponsive woman, according to a statement released Monday by the Hunterdon County prosecutors. Inside the home, officers found Lauren Semanchik, 33, and Tyler Webb, 29, both dead in what prosecutors described as a "targeted attack." Crime of Passion Lauren Semanchik X Investigators quickly identified Ricardo Santos, 45, a lieutenant with the New Jersey State Police and Semanchik's former boyfriend, as a potential suspect and launched a search to trace him. Shortly after the search was underway, Santos was found dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound inside his 2008 white Mercedes in Piscataway, roughly 50 miles from the crime scene, according to prosecutors. A semiautomatic pistol, suspected to be the weapon used in the killings, was found next to him. Investigators later learned that the night before the incident, Franklin Township police had responded to a 911 call reporting "audible gunshots and screaming" near Semanchik's home. However, officers were unable to determine the exact location of the sounds. Authorities also found out that Semanchik, a veterinarian, had installed surveillance cameras in her car after reporting that Santos had been stalking her. Video footage showed her car leaving her veterinary clinic in Long Valley at 5:25 p.m. on Friday. Footage from the rear camera captured Santos' Mercedes tailing Semanchik closely from her workplace to her home. She arrived at her home just before 6 p.m., and around ten minutes later, someone was seen coming out of the wooded area near her driveway. Roughly thirty minutes after that, Webb's car pulled up and parked beside Semanchik's vehicle, according to prosecutors. Trailed and Killed His Target Lauren Semanchik Facebook Semanchik's family told CBS News that it was her father who found the bodies of his daughter and Webb on Saturday. They said it looked as though "she was trying to run away" at the time she was killed. "She was shot in the back," said Semanchik's sister, Deanna. "She gave so much of her life to other people and she deserved so much better." The family described the disturbing chain of events that unfolded after Semanchik broke off her relationship with Santos in September 2024. Their relationship had lasted just three months before she ended it, but not long after, the state trooper began stalking and "harassing" her, according to the family. "She tried to block him many times and he continued to call her from restricted numbers. He showed up at her work, that's where the car was keyed," Deanna Semanchik told the outlet. "He put recording devices in her home, water in her gas tank. He harassed her left and right." Jeannine Semanchik, the victim's mother, said her daughter tried to alert authorities about her unstable ex-boyfriend, but no action was taken to ensure her safety. "A lot of agencies failed her. She tried to get restraining orders. Nobody called her back," Jeannine Semanchik said. Santos had earlier worked as a supervisor on Governor Phil Murphy's security team, according to CBS News. Semanchik completed both her undergraduate and veterinary studies at the University of Wisconsin and was a well-loved veterinarian at Long Valley Animal Hospital, known for her exceptional dedication to caring for animals.
Time of India
05-08-2025
- Time of India
'Agencies failed her': New Jersey trooper kills ex-girlfriend and new partner after months of stalking; family says system ignored pleas for help
Representative image A New Jersey state trooper fatally shot his ex-girlfriend and her new boyfriend before killing himself, following months of stalking and harassment after their breakup, authorities revealed Monday. Franklin Township police responded to a Pittstown home around 12.20 pm on Saturday after receiving a report of an unconscious woman. Inside, officers found 33-year-old Lauren Semanchik and 29-year-old Tyler Webb dead from gunshot wounds in what Hunterdon County prosecutors described as a 'targeted attack.' Detectives quickly identified Semanchik's ex-boyfriend, New Jersey State Police Lt Ricardo Santos, 45, as the prime suspect. Santos was later found dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound inside his 2008 white Mercedes in Piscataway, about 50 miles away. A semiautomatic handgun, believed to be the murder weapon, was recovered at the scene, reported the New York Post.. Santos had previously served as a supervisor on governor Phil Murphy's protection detail. Semanchik, a veterinarian, had recently reported being stalked by Santos. She had installed cameras in her car for safety. Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Your Finger Shape Says a Lot About Your Personality, Read Now Tips and Tricks Undo by Taboola by Taboola Footage from her rear camera captured Santos' vehicle closely following her from her workplace in Long Valley to her home on Friday evening. She arrived home shortly before 6 pm, and 10 minutes later, someone emerged from the woods bordering her driveway. Webb arrived nearly 30 minutes later and parked next to her vehicle. Investigators also revealed that police had received a 911 call from the area of Semanchik's home the previous night, reporting 'audible gunshots and screaming.' Officers were unable to determine the source of the noises at the time. Semanchik's family told CBS News, as cited by The New York Post, it was her father who discovered the bodies the following day. 'She was shot in the back,' said her sister, Deanna Semanchik. 'She gave so much of her life to other people and she deserved so much better.' The family recounted how Semanchik and Santos had dated for only three months before she ended the relationship in September 2024. 'She tried to block him many times and he continued to call her from restricted numbers. He showed up at her work, that's where the car was keyed,' said Deanna. 'He put recording devices in her home, water in her gas tank. He harassed her left and right.' Their mother, Jeannine Semanchik, said her daughter repeatedly sought help from law enforcement but received no protection. 'A lot of agencies failed her. She tried to get restraining orders. Nobody called her back,' she said. Hunterdon county prosecutor Renee Robeson confirmed the case is being treated as a domestic violence-related double homicide.
New York Post
05-08-2025
- New York Post
NJ state trooper kills ex-girlfriend, her new boyfriend in murder-suicide after months of stalking her: ‘She deserved so much better'
A New Jersey State Trooper — once entrusted with protecting the governor — gunned down his ex-girlfriend and her new boyfriend before killing himself, following months of stalking after their breakup. Franklin Township police rushed to a Pittstown home on Saturday around 12:20 p.m. after receiving a report of an unconscious woman, Hunterdon County prosecutors revealed Monday. Inside, officers found Lauren Semanchik, 33, and Tyler Webb, 29, dead from gunshot wounds in what prosecutors called a 'targeted attack.' Advertisement 6 Lauren Semanchik was killed by her ex-boyfriend at her home in New Jersey. Facebook / Lauren Semanchik Detectives quickly identified Semanchik's ex-boyfriend, New Jersey State Trooper Lt. Ricardo Santos, 45, as a possible suspect and began searching for him. Soon after the search began, Santos was found dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound in his 2008 white Mercedes in Piscataway, about 50 miles away, prosecutors said. A semiautomatic handgun, believed to be the murder weapon, was found beside Santos. Advertisement Investigators later learned that Franklin Township police officers responded to a 911 call in the area of Semanchik's residence the night before — where 'audible gunshots and screaming' were heard by the operator — but were never able to pinpoint where the noises came from. Police also learned that Semanchik, a veterinarian, had installed cameras in her car after reporting that Santos was stalking her. Footage captured her vehicle leaving her veterinary office in Long Valley Friday at 5:25 p.m. Advertisement 6 Tyler Webb (pictured), Semanchik's new boyfriend, was also killed. Facebook / Tyler Webb The rear camera recorded Santos' Mercedes closely following Semanchik from her workplace to her home. Semanchik arrived home just before 6 p.m. Ten minutes later, someone emerged from the woods bordering her driveway. Nearly half an hour later, Webb's vehicle arrives at the home and parks next to Semanchik's vehicle, prosecutors said. Advertisement 6 Semanchik and Webb's bodies were found inside her home on Saturday. Semanchik's family told CBS News her father was the one who discovered his daughters and Webb's body on Saturday, and it appeared that 'she was running away' when she was killed. 'She was shot in the back,' Semanchik's sister, Deanna, said. 'She gave so much of her life to other people and she deserved so much better.' The family recounted the chilling series of events that began after Semanchik ended her relationship with Santos in September 2024. 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. 'She tried to block him many times and he continued to call her from restricted numbers. He showed up at her work, that's where the car was keyed,' Deanna Semanchik told the outlet. 6 Semanchik was a beloved veterinarian at Long Valley Animal Hospital. GoFundMe 6 Semanchik earned her undergraduate and veterinary degrees from the University of Wisconsin. GoFundMe Advertisement 'He put recording devices in her home, water in her gas tank. 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,' Jeannine Semanchik said. Santos previously worked as a supervisor on Gov. Phil Murphy's protection detail, CBS News reported. Advertisement 'We are shocked and devastated by this horrific tragedy,' a spokesperson for his office said. 'Due to the law enforcement investigation currently underway, we will refrain from further comment at this time.' 6 Webb was a member of the Pinewald Pioneer Volunteer Fire Company. Pinewald Pioneer Fire Co. Semanchik earned her undergraduate and veterinary degrees from the University of Wisconsin and was a beloved veterinarian at Long Valley Animal Hospital, whose passion for helping animals was unmatched. 'Not only was Lauren a phenomenal veterinarian, she was one of the kindest souls you could ever encounter and a friend to us all,' according to a GoFundMe page launched by her co-workers to help with funeral expenses and to honor her memory through charitable donations. Advertisement 'She was gentle, never judgmental, and gave hugs and hand-holding to families that needed support the most during their most difficult moments.' Webb was a member of the Pinewald Pioneer Volunteer Fire Company, who 'served our department with dedication and honor,' the fire company wrote on Facebook. '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.' Hunterdon County Prosecutor Renée Robeson confirmed the case was being investigated as an act of domestic violence and a targeted double homicide.
