GRANDPA ACCUSED OF BEING DRUNK WHEN HIS BOAT CRASHED AND KI-LLED HIS TWO GRANDCHILDREN, 9 AND 7—NOW HE FACES H0MICIDE CHARGES
The grandfather who crashed his boat, killing his two young grandchildren, at the Jersey Shore last month was allegedly drunk at the time, according to a report.
Stephen Schneider, 64, was arrested Friday for allegedly piloting his 30-foot Tidewater 280 while plowed in Barnegat Bay, slamming into a wood channel marker and sending the kids flying into the waters around 9 p.m. July 19, NJ.com reported.
He and his wife pulled Mya Bella Golabek, 9, and her brother Sigmund Paul Golabek, 7, from the dark waters but they were unresponsive — they died at a local hospital.
The outlet did not report on what Schneider’s BAC was at the time, only citing court records that indicated he was “impaired by alcohol.”
He was arrested on Friday and charged with two counts of reckless vessel homicide.
Public records show that Schneider lives in a ritzy waterfront two bedroom three bath $1 million home in Bayville, Ocean County.
“A sibling bond is a love that lasts forever,” one of their obituaries reads.
“Mya and Siggy were not only brother and sister, but best friends who shared laughter, adventures, and countless memories.”
“Now they continue their journey together, hand in hand, carrying their love beyond this world and leaving behind a beautiful reminder of the unbreakable bond they shared.”
Mya, an artist and an athlete, loved sports and swimming at the beach as well as crafting and drawing.
Sigmund, also a sports-lover, enjoyed baseball, basketball, swimming and spending time with family and friends.
The duo adored their dogs, Tequila and Captain.
Berkeley Councilman James Byrnes told News12 New Jersey that he witnessed the young boy wearing a life jacket while first responders tried to revive him — to no avail.
“The firemen jumped right in” to try to save them, Byrnes told the outlet.
“The one child had a life jacket next to him. Of course, with CPR being performed, they’re going to remove it.”
The fatal mishap shook the quiet community.
“They’re going to be living with this forever in our hearts, and our thoughts go out to the family,” the councilman said of the children’s kin.
“This is a real tragedy.”
SOURCE: https://nypost.com/2026/08/14/us-news/grandfather-in-fatal-jersey-shore-boat-crash-that-killed-his-two-grandkids-was-impaired-by-alcohol-charged-with-homicide/
