N.J. Home Sealed Off After Tragic Double Killing—What Really Happened Inside?
Quiet N.J. Home Turns Crime Scene: Shocking Double Murder Unfolds in Peaceful Pittstown Neighborhood
Pittstown, NJ — August 4, 2025
A peaceful home in a quiet Franklin Township neighborhood became the center of a chilling mystery this weekend after two people were found dead from gunshot wounds, sending shockwaves through the normally calm Pittstown community.
On what seemed like a typical Saturday afternoon, local police responded to a distress call about an unconscious woman inside a house on Upper Kingtown Road. But what they discovered inside was far more disturbing — a scene of violence no one in the neighborhood ever expected. Authorities say both victims, identified as 33-year-old Lauren Semanchik of Pittstown and 29-year-old Tyler Webb of Forked River, were killed in what is now confirmed as a double homicide.
While investigators remain tight-lipped about exactly what happened behind those closed doors, law enforcement confirmed there is no ongoing threat to the public — raising more questions than answers about who was responsible and why. A disturbing twist was disclosed by sources close to the investigation: Semanchik, one of the victims, had dated a New Jersey state trooper, now thought to be the shooter who committed himself.
The Hunterdon County Prosecutor’s Office is still investigating the suspected shooter’s identity. They have not established a timeline, but adjacent homeowners reported hearing large blasts late Friday evening. One neighbor reported hearing fireworks or gunshots before sunset, followed by an unsettling silence.
“It’s terrifying,” said longtime area resident Luis Luna. The location is family-friendly.Nothing ever happens here — until now.”
A hilltop residence surrounded by trees was packed with police cars by Saturday afternoon. Witnesses saw many marked patrol cars in the driveway and on the small approach to the house. Police simply confirmed that the case is under investigation and declined to comment.
What caused this violent outburst in a peaceful setting? Was it passion crime? Premeditation? Something deeper and darker? Investigators’ silence and the tragic home’s closed doors conceal such answers.
Call Detective Sgt. David Petelle or Detective Quayshaun Brooks at 908-788-1129 with any information about the incident. Hunterdon County Crime Stoppers accepts anonymous tips at 1-800-321-0010.
As the investigation continues, many are left asking—what really went wrong inside that house on the hill?
