The Hunterdon County prosecutor’s office has taken control of the Franklin Township Police Department in New Jersey following an investigation into the shooting deaths of two people and the apparent suicide of the suspect, a state trooper. Prosecutor Renée M. Robeson said her office will oversee the department’s daily operations until further notice, citing “serious concerns” about its effectiveness.
The action comes after Police Chief Timothy Snyder and another official were placed on administrative leave by the township council. Officials have not disclosed specific details about the prosecutor’s concerns.
The killings occurred on Saturday in the Pittstown section of Franklin Township. Authorities identified the suspect as Lieutenant Ricardo Santos, a New Jersey state trooper who had previously served on Governor Philip D. Murphy’s protection detail. Victims Lauren Semanchik, 33, a veterinarian, and Tyler Webb, 29, a mechanic and volunteer firefighter, were in a relationship. Semanchik had previously dated Santos, who, according to investigators, harassed her after their September 2024 breakup.
Investigators said Santos followed Semanchik from her job on Aug. 1 to her home in Franklin Township, where surveillance video showed a person moving through nearby woods. Webb arrived about half an hour later, and gunfire erupted shortly after 7 p.m. A neighbor reported hearing multiple shots, screams, and then a final gunshot before calling police.
The neighbor said an officer arrived without lights or siren but left within minutes without speaking to her. Police did not return until the next day, when a 911 call reported an unconscious woman at the home. Both victims were found shot.
Santos was later discovered dead in his SUV in a Piscataway park from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot. A handgun was recovered from the vehicle, and a note found in his home expressed anger toward the state police, alleging bullying and harassment.
