The families of Lauren Semanchik and Tyler Webb — who were killed in their Hunterdon County home earlier this month — are suing local and state police over their deaths, according to attorneys for the families, as first reported by NJ.com. New Jersey State Police Lt. Ricardo Santos is accused of killing Semanchik and Webb and then taking his own life.
The family of Semanchik has said repeatedly that she went to police for help after Santos, her ex, began stalking and harassing her but her calls for help went unheard. Earlier this week authorities released a voicemail Semanchik left for Franklin Township police in May, during which she asked about filing a police report or restraining order but was never called back.
At a news conference Thursday, attorneys said Semanchik also sought help from a colleague of Santos in the State Police, to no avail. They also said a Franklin police car responded to the Upper Kingtown Road area after receiving a report of gunshots the night of the murders, “but drove by the house without ever even going in, and did nothing more.”
The Hunterdon County Prosecutor’s Office took control of the Franklin Police Department and placed a sergeant and the police chief on leave a few days after the murders.
