Families of couple killed in NJ double murder-suicide to file lawsuit against police

ROSELAND, N.J. (PIX11) -- Attorneys representing the families of Lauren Semanchik and Tyler Webb announced plans to file a lawsuit against multiple police agencies, saying police failed to protect them before they were killed at Semanchik's house in Franklin Township, Hunterdon County.

"The Franklin Township Police Department did absolutely nothing after having this complaint," said counsel David Mazie, referring to a voicemail left by Semanchik to police seeking a restraining order against her ex-boyfriend, State Police Lieutenant Ricardo Santos. 

Lawyers say State Police, Franklin Township and and Washington Township, Morris County Police Departments will all be named in the lawsuit. They say Santos began harassing Semanchik at work and home after they broke up last year.

It all led up to Friday, August 1st, when the Hunterdon County Prosecutor's Office says Santos followed Semanchik home from work, and suspects that he shot and killed her and Webb before driving to Piscataway to take his own life.

"She was failed by every single law enforcement agency that she went to for help," said Lauren's mother, Jennine Semanchik

On the night of the murders, neighbors called 911 to report screaming and gunshots. Franklin Police responded, but lawyers allege they never went up to the home and that Lauren's father discovered the bodies outside the home the next day.

"That was a dereliction of duty at the utmost level," said Jennine Semanchik.

Attorney Beth Baldinger spoke on behalf of Webb's parents, Jim and Lisa. "The Webb family is committed to attaining justice for Tyler," said Baldinger. "They seek a full investigation and accountability by those who failed Lauren, and in so doing, failed Tyler."

State Police, Washington Township Police, and the Hunterdon County Prosecutor's Office, which assumed control of Franklin Township Police, all declined to comment.