Concerns Raised Over Police Response in New Jersey Woman’s Murder Case

On Tuesday, lawyers for a New Jersey woman’s family shared concerns regarding her death, which occurred after a confrontation with local authorities. Lauren Semanchik had reached out to the police prior to her tragic end, prompting questions about the response from law enforcement.

The legal team claimed that if the various police departments involved had taken her concerns seriously, Semanchik might still be alive. She and her boyfriend, Tyler Webb, had reported gunman Ricardo Santos, who ultimately took his own life after the incident.

“It’s astonishing that they’ve been quiet during this situation. We’re starting to wonder if there’s some kind of cover-up happening, ignoring Lauren’s well-founded complaints,” attorney David Massie remarked.

Massie and his colleague, Beth Bardinger, pointed to several law enforcement agencies that they feel failed Semanchik, particularly the state police, where Santos served, and the Franklin Township Department, where she sought help on May 20th.

Upon contacting her local police, Semanchik was told that the officer at the desk couldn’t help her at that moment, which, quite honestly, must have been frustrating.

She was handed a card to call back, which she did later that same day. During that call, Semanchik explained her predicament, expressing discomfort due to harassment from her ex-boyfriend, a state trooper. “If you could get back to me, that would be fantastic,” she added cautiously.

However, no response came from the police, which infuriated her family. “Hearing her voice on that voicemail, they knew she had done everything right in trying to seek help,” Bardinger stated.

In the aftermath of the murder-suicide, the Hunterdon County Prosecutor’s Office has assumed control of the Franklin Police Department due to the circumstances surrounding the tragedy.

A spokesperson for the prosecutor’s office declined to comment on the voicemail, citing an ongoing investigation.

According to her family, Semanchik had been facing harassment from Santos for several months after their breakup in September 2024.

Massie and Bardinger also voiced concerns about the behavior of police officers from Washington Township when they believed Santos had tampered with her car the day before her call for help.

Semanchik had confided to police in Washington Township that she believed Santos had damaged her vehicle, leading her to seek their assistance.

“It seems like the police are more inclined to protect themselves than to address these serious allegations,” Bardinger suggested. “That’s simply not an acceptable way to confront these matters.”

Additional documents revealed that while Semanchik pursued help, she didn’t mention a restraining order. The officer involved noted that she had discussed ongoing issues with Santos outside of their jurisdiction and had sought advice on what to do next.

Emails sent to the Washington Township Police Chief have not yet received a response.

Though Semanchik reported the harassment to colleagues of Santos in the state police, details about any actions taken remain unclear.

Attorneys representing the family indicated that internal investigations are underway by the New Jersey State Attorney General’s Office concerning the police departments involved.

As these developments unfold, Massie and Bardinger stated that legal action against the state police and local governments may eventually be pursued. “There are laws in place to protect victims of domestic violence, and it seems they chose to ignore them,” Massie emphasized.