Lincoln Police investigating missing Stromsburg couple as homicide; two arrested in connection
LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) — The Lincoln Police Department is now investigating the disappearances of 26-year-old Hannah Neville and 27-year-old Roberto Tanner as homicides.
At a press conference on Monday, the police department said the Stromsburg couple and their unborn baby are likely dead, and two suspects believed to be connected to their murder have been arrested.
Neville and Tanner were reported missing to authorities last week after Neville’s car was found torched in northeast Lincoln.
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LPD said it’s still working to find Neville and Tanner’s bodies, but believes the two were murdered by Tanner’s half-brother, Sterling James.
James, 24, was arrested on suspicion of two counts of first-degree murder. His wife, 22-year-old Sayde Titus, was also arrested on suspicion of two counts of aiding and abetting first-degree murder.
Both are being held at the Lancaster County Jail.
The Polk County Sheriff’s Office alerted LPD about the missing person’s case on Wednesday, which Neville’s roommate filed after not seeing her since Jan. 15.
Neville was 32 weeks pregnant and was on her way to pick up Tanner in Lincoln. On Thursday, a missing person’s case was also filed for Tanner.
According to LPD, cell phone location data places Neville and Tanner at James and Titus’ apartment just before 7 p.m. on Jan. 15.
The data also shows Neville and Tanner traveling to several other locations in Lincoln — including a home near Northwest 27th Street and Alvo Road — before going offline on the afternoon of Jan. 16.
Earlier that morning, Neville’s car was found engulfed in flames near 39th Street and Cornhusker Highway.
Officers called Neville that morning to advise her of the fire, but her number was no longer in service, according to LPD.
LPD now believes that was because she was likely already dead at the time. The cause of the fire is still under investigation by the fire inspector.
On Sunday, LPD served a search warrant at the home near Northwest 27th Street and Alvo Road, where several people were detained and interviewed.
According to LPD, James shot Neville and Tanner sometime between the late hours of Jan. 15 and the early hours of Jan. 16.
LPD said James then buried their bodies and torched Neville’s car. LPD also said Titus helped bury the bodies.
The investigation is ongoing, including efforts to determine a motive. Anyone with information is asked to call LPD at 402-441-600 or Crime Stoppers at 402-475-3600 to remain anonymous.
