Tragic audio from a 911 call has surfaced following a devastating boating accident at the Jersey Shore, where a grandfather reportedly crashed his vessel while intoxicated, resulting in the heartbreaking loss of his two young grandchildren. The incident unfolded after a family dinner last month, leaving a community in shock.
Stephen Schneider, 64, is alleged to have been operating his 28-foot boat with a blood alcohol level reportedly twice the legal limit when he collided with a wooden channel marker in Barnegat Bay. This tragic accident occurred on July 19, sending his grandchildren, 9-year-old Mya Bella Golabek and 7-year-old Sigmund Paul Golabek, into the water.
In the haunting 911 call, the children’s grandmother, Laurie Schneider, can be heard frantically informing the dispatcher, “We have one on the boat and my husband’s in the water trying to get the other child out.” Her distress was palpable as she confirmed to the operator that both children were unconscious.
As the chaos unfolded, Laurie attempted to provide the dispatcher with their exact location, desperately asking, “Stephen, are we near channel marker 39?” The couple managed to pull the children from the dark waters, but despite their attempts at CPR, both Mya and Sigmund were pronounced dead at a local hospital shortly after.
Following the incident, Stephen Schneider voluntarily turned himself in to authorities, facing serious charges including two counts of reckless vessel homicide and operating a vessel under the influence. Reports indicate that he claimed to have consumed three beers over two hours during dinner with family.
In a surprising turn, the children’s father, who is also Schneider’s son-in-law, recently made a heartfelt plea for his release from jail, describing Schneider as a loving grandfather and a supportive family member. His emotional letter was read in court, highlighting the impact Schneider has had on their family.
As the legal proceedings continue, questions linger about the future and the profound loss felt by those involved. How will this tragedy reshape the lives of those left behind?
