Trooper’s $400k Fraud Exposed Before Murder-Suicide

A New Jersey State Trooper who murdered his ex-girlfriend and her new boyfriend was previously accused of manipulating overtime rules to inflate his salary to over $400,000, exposing systemic corruption that allowed a dangerous criminal to exploit taxpayer-funded systems.

Story Snapshot

Sgt. Ricardo Santos killed ex-girlfriend Lauren Semanchik and Tyler Webb before committing suicide
Santos previously faced allegations of overtime fraud, inflating his salary to over $400,000
The trooper stalked Semanchik for months after their September 2024 breakup
Surveillance footage captured Santos following his victims and lurking in wooded areas before the murders
The case highlights failures in law enforcement accountability and oversight

Corruption Preceded Violence

Sgt. First Class Ricardo Jorge Santos exploited New Jersey State Police overtime systems to artificially boost his annual salary to over $400,000, according to lawsuit allegations that emerged after his deadly rampage. This financial misconduct demonstrates how institutional failures enabled a corrupt officer to remain in position despite clear warning signs. Santos’s ability to manipulate departmental resources while exhibiting controlling behavior toward his ex-girlfriend reveals dangerous gaps in law enforcement oversight that ultimately cost innocent lives.

Calculated Stalking Campaign

Santos conducted a methodical stalking campaign against 33-year-old veterinarian Lauren Semanchik following their relationship’s end in September 2024. Surveillance footage shows Santos following Semanchik’s vehicle from her workplace to her Franklin Township home on August 1, 2025. At 6:11 p.m., cameras captured a figure believed to be Santos walking through wooded areas near Semanchik’s driveway, demonstrating premeditated intent. This calculated approach underscores how Santos used his law enforcement training to terrorize his victim while evading detection.

Double Murder Execution

Tyler Webb, a 29-year-old volunteer firefighter, arrived at Semanchik’s residence at 6:45 p.m., unaware of the deadly trap awaiting him. At 7:08 p.m., 911 calls reported gunshots and screaming, but responding officers failed to locate the source immediately. Both Semanchik and Webb were found dead the following day, victims of Santos’s jealous rage over Semanchik’s new relationship. This tragic outcome represents the ultimate failure of systems designed to protect citizens from dangerous individuals in positions of authority.

Systemic Law Enforcement Failures

Santos’s dual crimes of financial fraud and domestic terrorism expose critical weaknesses in New Jersey State Police oversight mechanisms. The trooper’s ability to manipulate overtime systems while simultaneously engaging in stalking behavior demonstrates how institutional corruption creates environments where dangerous officers operate with impunity. Semanchik had reported Santos’s harassment and controlling behavior, yet adequate protective measures failed to materialize. This case demands immediate reforms to prevent corrupt officers from exploiting both taxpayer resources and positions of public trust.

NJ state trooper who killed ex and her new boyfriend was once reported for manipulating overtime rules to juice salary to over $400K, suit alleges https://t.co/TB8LK4tiAp pic.twitter.com/91iTs7Gp7B

— New York Post (@nypost) August 5, 2025

Justice Denied Through Suicide

Santos denied his victims and their families justice by taking his own life in Johnson Park, Piscataway, shortly after the murders. His suicide eliminated the possibility of criminal prosecution and full accountability for both the overtime fraud and double homicide. The loss of Lauren Semanchik, a dedicated veterinarian, and Tyler Webb, a community-minded volunteer firefighter, represents an immeasurable tragedy that proper law enforcement oversight could have prevented. Their deaths serve as a stark reminder of what happens when institutional failures enable corrupt officers to remain in positions where they can cause irreparable harm.