On Friday, Aug. 1, Semanchik was followed home by her ex-boyfriend, Lt. Ricardo Jorge Santos, whom she had reported to police for harassing behavior after their breakup in September. On Saturday, she and Webb were found shot to death outside her residence in Franklin Township and Santos was discovered with a self-inflicted gunshot wound in his car.

“Psychological abuse isn’t currently included in the definition of domestic violence, but it can be just as damaging as any physical assault and needs to be taken just as seriously. It is often the precursor to a violent incident,” Dunn (R-Morris) said.

Semanchik reportedly sought a restraining order after nonstop phone calls and texts, and having her car vandalized and recording devices planted in her home. The Franklin Township Police Department is accused of mishandling the case and has since been taken over by the Hunterdon County Prosecutor's Office.

Dunn’s bill (A3236) revises the definition of domestic violence to include psychological and economic abuse. If an incident causes fear, serious alarm or distress that has a substantial adverse impact on a person’s daily activities, it could be considered a domestic violence offense.

“This young woman feared for her safety and the system failed her in the worst way,” Dunn said. “We will never know if changing the language in the law would have made a difference in Lauren and Tyler’s lives or prompted an appropriate response by law enforcement, but if it means we can prevent a similar tragedy, New Jersey’s Legislature is obligated to act and act swiftly.”

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