Grandfather accused of drunk boating crash that killed two grandchildren in New Jersey

According to audio, Stephen Schneider, 64, was alleged to have drunk twice the legal limit before his 28-foot boat struck a channel marker in Barnegat Bay after a family dinner. The collision sent his grandchildren, Mya Bella Golabek, 9, and Sigmund Paul Golabek, 7, into the dark water, prompting a frantic 911 call from their grandmother, Laurie Schneider, who reported the children were unconscious. Rescue efforts pulled the children from the water, and CPR was administered before they were taken to a local hospital, where both died.

The incident occurred around 9 p.m. off Berkeley Township. Schneider now faces two counts of reckless vessel homicide, a charge for operating a vessel while intoxicated, and reckless operation of a vessel. In court, his attorney read a heartfelt letter from his father praising his character.