“I DIDN’T KNOW THEY WERE GONE”: GRANDFATHER’S REALIZATION AFTER BOAT CRASH ADDS HAUNTING DETAIL TO TRAGEDY

BAYVILLE, N.J. — The terrifying seconds after Stephen Schneider’s boat slammed into a channel marker may hold one of the most important details in the investigation into the deaths of his two young grandchildren.

According to reports, the 64-year-old grandfather did not immediately realize that 9-year-old Mya Golabek and her 7-year-old brother, Sigmund Paul Golabek, were no longer aboard the boat after the collision.

The children had been riding near the bow of Schneider’s 28-foot Tidewater Custom 280 when the vessel struck a wooden channel marker in Barnegat Bay on July 19.

Then, in an instant, they were gone.

THE MOMENT EVERYTHING CHANGED

The family had spent the evening together at MJ’s Restaurant in Bayville.

After dinner, Mya and Sigmund reportedly chose to return to their grandparents’ home aboard Schneider’s boat rather than travel with their parents on their separate vessel.

The trip was supposed to be a short ride.

Instead, at around 9 p.m., the boat struck the channel marker.

The impact sent the two children into the dark water.

What happened immediately afterward has now become a crucial part of the timeline.

According to reports, Schneider initially did not realize the children had fallen overboard.

Only after the collision did the family discover that Mya and Sigmund were missing.

They began searching in the darkness.

SCHNEIDER ENTERED THE WATER

Once the family realized the children were no longer on board, Schneider reportedly entered the water himself in an attempt to find them.

The children were eventually located in the bay.

Both were wearing life jackets.

Schneider and his wife pulled the children from the water and began CPR while emergency responders rushed to the scene.

Mya and Sigmund were taken to a hospital, but neither child survived.

The tragedy has left both families devastated and placed Schneider at the center of a criminal investigation.

THE “THREE BEERS” CLAIM

Another major issue in the case is Schneider’s account of how much alcohol he consumed before taking control of the boat.

Schneider reportedly told authorities that he had consumed three beers over approximately two hours during the family dinner.

But prosecutors later revealed that his blood-alcohol concentration was reportedly 0.16, twice New Jersey’s 0.08 legal limit.

Prosecutors argued that the result demonstrated a significant level of impairment at the time he was operating the vessel.

Schneider has been charged with two counts of reckless vessel homicide/death by vessel, along with charges related to operating a vessel under the influence and reckless operation.

The charges are allegations, and Schneider remains entitled to the presumption of innocence unless proven guilty in court.

A FAMILY DINNER THAT ENDED IN TRAGEDY

What makes the case especially heartbreaking is how ordinary the evening initially appeared.

The families had gathered for dinner.

The children then decided to ride back to their grandparents’ home by boat.

Minutes later, a routine family outing had become an emergency in the darkness of Barnegat Bay.

The children’s father has also publicly expressed support for Schneider.

During a court hearing over Schneider’s release, the children’s father described him as a loving grandfather and said he remained grateful for the role Schneider had played in his children’s lives.

A judge ultimately allowed Schneider to leave jail pending trial.

He was ordered not to operate a boat or drive while the case proceeds.

THE TIMELINE NOW MATTERS

Investigators and prosecutors will have to reconstruct exactly what happened from the moments before the collision through the rescue attempt.

Key questions include:

• How fast was the boat traveling?
• What caused Schneider to strike the channel marker?
• What visibility conditions existed that night?
• How long did it take the family to realize the children were missing?
• What happened immediately after the collision?
• And what role, if any, did alcohol impairment play in Schneider’s ability to operate the boat?

The reported moment when Schneider realized Mya and Sigmund were no longer aboard could therefore become an important part of the broader timeline.

“HE WILL NEVER BE ON A BOAT AGAIN”

During the hearing, Schneider’s attorney emphasized his remorse and argued that he posed little continuing risk.

His defense also questioned circumstances surrounding the channel marker and indicated that additional investigation into the case was necessary.

The defense has challenged aspects of the prosecution’s account, while prosecutors have emphasized the reported 0.16 BAC and the catastrophic consequences of the crash.

Schneider has since been released pending trial.

His next court appearance is scheduled for September 15.

TWO CHILDREN, ONE FAMILY NIGHT, AND QUESTIONS THAT REMAIN

Mya and Sigmund were described as beloved children whose lives ended during what had begun as a family evening together.

Their parents were on the water that night.

Their grandparents were on another boat.

And after the collision, a desperate search unfolded in the darkness.

For the family, the most painful part may be the speed at which everything changed.

One moment, two children were riding toward their grandparents’ home.

The next, they were missing from the boat.

Their grandfather entered the water searching for them.

Now, as Schneider faces criminal charges, investigators and prosecutors are working to establish precisely how those final minutes unfolded.

The case is far from over — and the timeline of those few critical moments after the collision could become central to what happens next.