Grandfather accused of boating while intoxicated—resulting in the deaths of his two grandchildren at the Jersey Shore—faces two counts of manslaughter.
New Jersey Grandparents’ Boat Crash Kills Two Children; Grandfather Charged
A devastating boating accident in Barnegat Bay, New Jersey, has resulted in the deaths of two young siblings and criminal charges against their grandfather.
The crash occurred on the evening of July 19, 2026, in Berkeley Township, when 64-year-old Stephen Schneider was operating a boat approximately 30 feet long.
According to authorities, the vessel struck a navigational marker, causing Schneider’s grandchildren, 9-year-old Mya Bella Golabek and 7-year-old Sigmund “Siggy” Golabek, to be thrown into the water.
Both children died following the tragic collision.
Nearly a month later, on August 14, 2026, Schneider was arrested and charged with two counts of reckless vessel homicide, one for each child’s death.
Charging documents allege that Schneider’s ability to operate the boat was impaired by alcohol at the time of the collision. The allegation will be addressed through the legal process, and Schneider is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
The tragedy has left the children’s family and community devastated. Mya and Siggy were only 9 and 7 years old, and their deaths have brought profound grief to everyone who knew them.
Investigators are continuing to examine the circumstances surrounding the crash, including the boat’s operation, the collision with the navigational marker, and the allegations concerning alcohol impairment.
The charges represent a significant development in the investigation, but the case will now proceed through the New Jersey court system as prosecutors and defense attorneys address the evidence.
For the children’s loved ones, the criminal proceedings come amid an unimaginable loss—the deaths of two young siblings whose lives were tragically cut short during what should have been a family outing on the water.
Source: NY Post
