WHY DID IT TAKE NEARLY A MONTH TO ARREST HIM? THE BAC RESULT THAT CHANGED THE CASE

For nearly four weeks after the July 19 Barnegat Bay crash that killed siblings Mya Golabek, 9, and Sigmund “Siggy” Golabek, 7, one question remained:

WHY WAS THEIR GRANDFATHER NOT ARRESTED IMMEDIATELY?

On August 14, 64-year-old Stephen Schneider surrendered to police and was charged with two counts of reckless vessel homicide, along with boating-under-the-influence and reckless-operation charges.

The answer appears to involve the investigation that continued after the crash.

THE TOXICOLOGY RESULTS

According to evidence presented at Schneider’s August 19 detention hearing, prosecutors said his blood-alcohol concentration was 0.16% — approximately twice New Jersey’s legal limit for operating a motor vehicle.

Court documents also say Schneider told investigators he had consumed three beers before the crash.

Investigators allege that alcohol significantly impaired his alertness, judgment, coordination and reaction time.

WHAT HAPPENED THAT NIGHT?

Authorities allege Schneider was operating his boat on Barnegat Bay when it struck a wooden channel marker.

The impact sent Mya and Siggy into the dark water.

Both children were wearing life jackets, but they were found face-down in the bay and later died at the hospital despite rescue efforts.

SO WHY WAIT UNTIL AUGUST 14?

The publicly available reports do not establish that prosecutors simply waited 30 days for one final BAC report.

What is clear is that the case remained under investigation after the July 19 crash, with authorities examining the collision, Schneider’s condition and other evidence before filing the homicide charges.

The exact sequence of investigative decisions leading to the August 14 arrest has not been fully explained publicly.

AND THE “ZERO BOND” CLAIM?

There is another important correction.

Schneider was initially held after his arrest, but at the August 19 detention hearing, Judge Wendel Daniels ordered his release while the case proceeds. The judge considered, among other things, Schneider’s lack of criminal history and requests from the children’s parents that he be released.

His next court appearance is scheduled for September 15.

A MONTH OF INVESTIGATION.

A 0.16% BAC RESULT.

TWO HOMICIDE COUNTS.

And now, instead of ending with an immediate jail sentence, the case is moving toward trial — where prosecutors will have to prove their allegations in court.

Stephen Schneider has been charged but has not been convicted.