Grandfather, 64, charged after Jersey Shore boat crash killed his two young grandchildren — as investigators reveal troubling allegation about his condition that night

• Stephen Schneider, 64, was allegedly piloting a 30-foot boat when it struck a wooden channel marker in Barnegat Bay
• His grandchildren Mya Bella Golabek, nine, and Sigmund Paul Golabek, seven, were thrown into the water
• Both children were pulled back aboard but later died from their injuries
• Schneider has now been charged with two counts of reckless vessel homicide
• Investigators allege his ability to safely operate the boat was impaired by alcohol
• Authorities have not disclosed a specific blood-alcohol level in the charging documents described
• Schneider is presumed innocent unless proven guilty

A New Jersey grandfather has been charged months after a horrific boating crash claimed the lives of his two young grandchildren at the Jersey Shore.

Stephen Schneider, 64, of Berkeley Township, was allegedly behind the controls of a 30-foot Tidewater boat on the evening of July 19 when the vessel slammed into a wooden channel marker in Barnegat Bay shortly after 9pm.

The violent collision sent his grandchildren — nine-year-old Mya Bella Golabek and her seven-year-old brother Sigmund Paul Golabek — into the dark water.

Schneider and his 64-year-old wife managed to pull both children back onto the boat.

But despite efforts to save them, the siblings were rushed to hospital and later died from their injuries.

Now, authorities have revealed a disturbing allegation about the grandfather’s condition on the night of the tragedy.

Grandfather accused of being impaired

Court records state that Schneider has been booked into the Ocean County Jail and charged with two counts of reckless vessel homicide.

According to the charging documents described in the report, investigators found evidence indicating that Schneider’s ability to safely operate the vessel was impaired by alcohol when the boat struck the marker.

Specific blood-alcohol concentration figures were not disclosed in the information released.

The allegation adds a troubling new dimension to a tragedy that devastated the children’s family and their New Jersey community.

Siblings remembered as inseparable

Mya and Sigmund, who lived in Lacey Township, were remembered by loved ones as incredibly close siblings and best friends.

Mya loved softball, swimming and arts and crafts, while her younger brother enjoyed baseball, dinosaurs and playing video games including Sonic.

Their deaths prompted an outpouring of grief and renewed attention on boating safety along the Jersey Shore.

But months after the devastating collision, the case has now shifted from tragedy to criminal proceedings.

The grandfather who was piloting the boat that night is facing homicide charges — while the allegation about alcohol has become a central part of the case authorities are now building against him.

Schneider is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.