A New Jersey grandfather has been charged with two counts of reckless vessel homicide in connection with the deaths of his two grandchildren. Stephen Schneider, 64, was arrested Friday, nearly a month after the July 19 incident that claimed the lives of Mya Golabek, 9, and her brother Sigmund Paul Golabek, 7.
According to court documents, the children had asked Schneider to take them back to his house following a family dinner. They boarded his boat without their parents, Jennifer and Sigmund Golabek Sr., who had left on their own vessel with plans to meet up later. Authorities allege Schneider was operating a 30-foot Tidewater Custom 280 while intoxicated when it struck a channel marker in Barnegat Bay. The force of the impact ejected Mya and Sigmund, who were wearing life jackets, into the water.
Schneider and his wife, Laurie Schneider, 64, pulled the unresponsive children back aboard the vessel. They were transported to a hospital where both were pronounced dead. New Jersey State Police stated that Schneider was unfit to operate a motor vehicle and that his alertness and judgment were markedly impaired by alcohol. Schneider reportedly told police he had consumed only three beers, but his blood alcohol concentration was redacted from publicly released court documents.
Mya and Sigmund were the only children of Jennifer Golabek, who is Schneider's daughter. Their obituaries described them as fun-loving and adventurous children with a close bond. Mya was remembered as a sweet and fun-loving child with a beautiful smile and kind heart, while Sigmund was described as having a gentle heart and playful spirit. The siblings were noted for sharing laughter, adventures, and countless memories.
Schneider is currently being held in Ocean County Jail without bail. The New Jersey State Police continue to investigate the incident.
