“I ONLY HAD THREE BEERS” — BUT THE 0.16 BAC RESULT NOW LOOMS OVER THE FATAL BOAT CRASH

A New Jersey grandfather’s account of how much he drank is facing intense scrutiny after prosecutors revealed that his blood-alcohol concentration was reportedly 0.16 following the boat crash that claimed the lives of his two grandchildren.

BERKELEY TOWNSHIP, N.J. — Stephen Schneider, 64, told investigators that he had consumed three beers over roughly two hours during a family dinner before operating his boat on Barnegat Bay, according to reporting and court proceedings.

The children, 9-year-old Mya Golabek and 7-year-old Sigmund “Siggy” Golabek, were aboard the boat when it struck a channel marker at about 9 p.m. on July 19.

Both children were wearing life jackets, but they were thrown from the vessel. They were later taken to a hospital, where they were pronounced dead.

THE NUMBER THAT CHANGED THE CASE

Schneider reportedly told police he had consumed three beers.

But prosecutors later revealed that a blood test showed a BAC of approximately 0.16 — twice New Jersey’s 0.08 legal limit for operating a vessel.

At Schneider’s August 19 detention hearing, Assistant Prosecutor Kate Burke argued that the result demonstrated the level of impairment prosecutors believe he had when he chose to operate the boat.

The defense has indicated that it intends to scrutinize the toxicology evidence and potentially have an independent expert review the BAC result.

WHAT HAPPENED ON THE BAY?

According to authorities, Schneider was operating a Tidewater Custom 280 when it struck a wooden channel marker.

The collision threw Mya and Siggy from the boat.

Their life jackets kept them afloat, but the siblings were found face-down in the water. Schneider and his wife attempted CPR before the children were transported to the hospital.

The family had reportedly been together for dinner at MJ’s Restaurant in Bayville before the children went with their grandparents on the boat.

What was supposed to be a short family trip ended in tragedy.

THE DEFENSE IS CHALLENGING MORE THAN THE BAC

Schneider’s attorney has argued that several questions remain unanswered.

Among them is whether the channel marker was properly illuminated that night.

The defense also wants its own expert to examine the reported BAC result.

Those issues could become important as prosecutors and defense attorneys prepare for the case to move forward.

SCHNEIDER HAS BEEN RELEASED

Despite prosecutors asking that Schneider remain detained, a judge granted his release on August 19.

His attorney emphasized that Schneider has no prior criminal record and that Mya and Siggy’s parents had asked the court to release him.

Schneider faces two counts of reckless vessel homicide, along with charges related to operating a vessel under the influence and reckless operation. He is scheduled to return to court on September 15.

He has not been convicted and remains presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.

TWO CHILDREN. ONE FINAL BOAT RIDE.

The most painful part of the case isn’t the toxicology number or the courtroom arguments.

It’s the fact that Mya and Siggy were simply spending time with their family.

They were 9 and 7 years old.

They wore life jackets.

They boarded a boat with their grandfather.

And they never made it home.

Now prosecutors are pointing to the 0.16 BAC as a critical piece of evidence, while the defense is preparing to challenge the circumstances surrounding the crash and the toxicology findings.

The case leaves one central question hanging over the upcoming proceedings:

WHAT REALLY HAPPENED IN THE MINUTES BEFORE THE BOAT HIT THE CHANNEL MARKER?

The answer could determine how prosecutors’ case unfolds — but for Mya and Siggy’s family, nothing can change the loss of two children whose final family outing ended in unimaginable tragedy.

Next court date: September 15, 2026.