THEY THOUGHT THEY WERE JUST GOING HOME WITH GRANDPA — THEN A FAMILY NIGHT ENDED IN TRAGEDY

BARNEGAT BAY, NEW JERSEY — What was supposed to be a simple family evening ended with two young siblings losing their lives in a devastating boating crash.

Mya Bella Golabek, 9, and her 7-year-old brother, Sigmund Paul Golabek, had spent the evening with their parents and grandparents at a waterfront restaurant in Bayville.

After dinner, the children made a heartbreaking decision that would change their family’s life forever.

They chose to ride back to their grandparents’ home on their grandfather’s boat rather than return with their parents.

Minutes later, the family’s plans turned into a nightmare.

THE CHILDREN WERE ON THEIR WAY TO GRANDPA’S HOUSE

According to court documents, the children and their parents had arrived at MJ’s Restaurant Bar & Grill in a separate boat.

After the family meal, Mya and Sigmund planned to return with their grandparents aboard Stephen Schneider’s approximately 30-foot Tidewater boat.

The boat departed after dark.

At approximately 9 p.m. on July 19, authorities say Schneider’s vessel struck a wooden channel marker in Barnegat Bay.

The impact threw both children overboard.

They were wearing life jackets.

But when Schneider and his wife found them in the water, both children were unresponsive. Despite rescue efforts and CPR, neither survived.

THE GRANDMOTHER AND GRANDFATHER TRIED TO SAVE THEM

In the immediate aftermath of the crash, Schneider and his wife pulled the children from the water and attempted CPR before they were transported to a hospital.

The siblings later died.

Their deaths left their parents facing the unimaginable reality of losing their only children.

Mya and Sigmund were remembered as extremely close siblings — more than brother and sister, they were described by their family as best friends who shared adventures, laughter and countless memories.

INVESTIGATORS SAY ALCOHOL PLAYED A ROLE

The tragedy has since become a criminal case.

Schneider, 64, has been charged with two counts of reckless vessel homicide, operating a vessel under the influence and reckless operation of a vessel.

According to court documents, Schneider told investigators that he had consumed three beers over approximately two hours at the restaurant — two Guinness beers and a Miller Lite.

He reportedly said he was traveling around 20 mph when he saw the channel marker only moments before the collision.

More recent court proceedings revealed that prosecutors allege his blood-alcohol concentration was approximately 0.16, twice New Jersey’s legal limit of 0.08. Schneider’s attorney has indicated the defense intends to investigate the circumstances surrounding the blood testing.

Authorities have also said the channel marker’s lights were functioning properly at the time of the crash.

A FAMILY THAT WILL NEVER BE THE SAME

The most painful part of this story is why Mya and Sigmund were on that boat in the first place.

They weren’t strangers.

They weren’t on a dangerous expedition.

They were spending time with their grandparents after a family dinner.

They were simply going home with people they loved.

Instead, a short nighttime boat ride became the final journey of two children.

Their father has since pleaded for Schneider to be released from jail, describing him as a loving grandfather who had been an important part of the family’s life. A judge granted Schneider release pending trial on August 19.

The criminal case will now determine what happened that night and whether Schneider is legally responsible for the deaths.

But for Mya and Sigmund’s parents, no courtroom decision can change the loss.

Two children got on their grandfather’s boat after a family dinner.

They never made it home.

The charges against Stephen Schneider are allegations, and he is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.