“I ONLY HAD THREE BEERS” — THEN THE TEST SHOWED A BAC OF 0.16

Jennifer Golabek thought her two children were simply going home with their grandparents after a family dinner.

9-year-old Mya and 7-year-old Sigmund “Siggy” Golabek never made it home.

On July 19, the siblings had dinner with their parents and grandparents at MJ’s Restaurant in Bayville, New Jersey.

Afterward, the children chose to return to their grandparents’ home aboard their grandfather’s boat.

It was supposed to be a short nighttime ride across Barnegat Bay.

Instead, around 9 p.m., 64-year-old Stephen Schneider’s 28-foot boat struck a channel marker, throwing both children into the dark water.

Both were wearing life jackets.

Schneider and his wife pulled them from the bay and attempted CPR, but the children later died at the hospital.

“THREE BEERS”

According to court documents, Schneider told police he had consumed three beers over approximately two hours during dinner.

But prosecutors presented another critical piece of evidence at Wednesday’s detention hearing:

His blood alcohol concentration was approximately 0.16% — twice New Jersey’s legal limit of 0.08%.

Prosecutors argued that the BAC demonstrated the level of impairment under which Schneider allegedly chose to operate the vessel.

The defense has indicated that investigators are still examining other circumstances surrounding the crash, including whether the channel marker was properly illuminated.

THEN CAME THE UNEXPECTED COURTROOM TWIST

Schneider is facing two counts of reckless vessel homicide, along with charges related to operating the boat under the influence and reckless operation.

Yet the children’s parents asked the judge to release him while the case moves forward.

A letter from their father was read during the hearing, describing Schneider as a loving grandfather who had played an important role in the family’s life.

The judge ultimately granted Schneider conditional release.

He is prohibited from operating a boat or motor vehicle while completing a court-ordered assessment, and he is due back in court on September 15.

TWO CHILDREN WHO WERE SUPPOSED TO BE HOME THAT NIGHT

Mya was 9.

Sigmund was 7.

They had gone to dinner with their family. They wanted to ride home with their grandparents.

Then a nighttime boat trip ended with both siblings in the water.

Their life jackets could not prevent the tragedy.

And now, while their grandfather faces criminal charges, their parents are asking the court to allow him to remain out of jail.

The legal case will determine what responsibility Schneider bears for the deaths.

But for Mya and Siggy’s family, one fact can never change:

They went out for what should have been an ordinary family evening — and never came home.

Stephen Schneider has been charged but has not been convicted. The allegations against him remain for the court to determine.