Prosecutors take over Franklin Twp., NJ police department amid murder-suicide investigation

FRANKLIN TWP., N.J. (WPVI) -- The Hunterdon County Prosecutor's Office has taken over the Franklin Township Police Department in New Jersey amid a double murder-suicide investigation, officials said on Thursday.

Officials said this is in response to FTPD's active investigation into a double murder-suicide involving a New Jersey State Trooper.

The department's investigation into the homicides has raised "serious concerns about the FTPD's operations and effectiveness," the prosecutor's office said in a press release.

FTPD Chief Timothy Snyder and Sergeant Kevin Bollaro are being placed on administrative leave.

The prosecutor's office will supervise the day-to-day operations until further notice.

New Jersey State Trooper Sgt. 1st Class Ricardo Jorge Santos is accused of killing 33-year-old Lauren Semanchik and 29-year-old Tyler Webb, and then taking his own life.

Officers discovered Semanchik and Webb shot to death in Semanchik's home on Upper Kingtown Road in Franklin Township on Saturday afternoon.

Santos was also later found dead of an apparent suicide in a vehicle in Johnson Park in Piscataway.

Semanchik is said to be Santos' ex-girlfriend.

Authorities say Semanchik ended her relationship with Santos in September 2024, but she has since accused him of harassing and controlling behavior. Officials say that Semanchik had recently started dating Webb.

Semanchik was a veterinarian at Long Valley Animal Hospital.

Webb was a volunteer firefighter for the Pinewald Pioneer Fire Company.

Officials said Santos once served on 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.

The investigations into the homicides and FTPD are ongoing.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Hunterdon County Prosecutor's Office 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.

If you are experiencing suicidal, substance use or other mental health crises please call or text the new three-digit code at 988. You will reach a trained crisis counselor for free, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. You can also go to 988lifeline.org.