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Two people have been charged in connection with the deaths of a pregnant Nebraska woman and her husband. Here’s what we know so far.Who are the victimsHannah Neville, 26, was 32 weeks pregnant when she disappeared. Court documents said her roommate reported her missing to police. The roommate claimed Neville traveled to Lincoln to pick of her husband, 27-year-old Roberto Tanner, but never returned home. Who are the suspectsOn Feb. 2, Lincoln police arrested Sterling James, 24, and his wife Sayde Titus, 22, in connection to the case.At the time, police had not located the bodies of Neville and Tanner, but they believed they were dead after a witness told investigators James had admitted to shooting the couple, according to court documents.PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Lincoln police believe pregnant woman, husband and unborn child dead; couple arrestedThe affidavit also alleged the witness claimed James admitted Titus had helped him clean up following the shooting, and she helped him dig up the bodies and re-bury them in a different location. Lincoln police: Missing persons case involving pregnant woman now homicide investigationJames, who is Tanner’s half-brother, is charged with two counts of first-degree murder, murder of an unborn child, and tampering with physical evidence.If convicted, James could face the death penalty, according to court documents.RELATED COVERAGE: Here are Nebraska’s 11 death row inmates and their crimesTitus has been charged with multiple counts of accessory to a felony as well as tampering with evidence.Timeline of eventsAccording to court records, on Jan. 16, police found a silver 2009 Chevy Trailblazer engulfed in flames, and upon further investigation, it was found to be Neville’s vehicle.Then on Jan. 28, Lincoln police found out a missing person’s report had been filed by Neville’s roommate in Stromsburg, Nebraska. Court documents said the roommate hadn’t seen Neville since she went to pick up her husband from Lincoln on Jan. 15. The roommate also added that Neville has not been on social media since Jan. 15, “which was unlike her.”The Lincoln Police Department launched an investigation in which they contacted James.James, according to court documents, said he received concerning messages from his mother, who said Tanner was texting her about having “sexual fantasies with other family members.”The affidavit said James stated Tanner was staying with his family, and when he went to talk to his brother about the messages, Tanner “made a reference to going to get a gun.” The affidavit said Tanner claimed before the two could talk, Tanner was picked up by someone in a dark SUV.MORE DETAILS: Court documents reveal new details in the case of a missing Nebraska couple who are believed to be deadNeville’s roommate was able to track down the whereabouts of Neville’s phone using Life360 and found it traveled to numerous places from Jan. 15 to Jan. 16. Life360 tracking timeline:Arapahoe Street to 7600 Northwest 27th Street from 8 p.m. until 1:30 a.m. on Jan. 15Northwest 27th Street to North 40th Street and Branched Oak Road in a tree line from 1:50 a.m. to 5:43 a.m. on Jan. 16thBranched Oak Road to 1320 South Street at 5:59 a.m.1320 South Street to a Lincoln landfill at Highway 77 and Bluff Road at 2:21 p.m. Court documents said a witness came forward on Feb. 1, saying they saw James with a woman in the early hours of Jan. 16, and they also saw a deceased woman lying on the ground. The witness alleged the deceased woman was put inside an SUV before it left the property.After receiving a tip that led investigators to a witness, the affidavit said that witness said James told them he shot Tanner several times as he was running away and shot Neville twice while she was in a car. The witness, according to court records, alleged James also admitted to burying the bodies as well as setting Neville’s vehicle on fire. Court documents also said the witness claimed James admitted that Titus helped him clean up after the shooting and then dig up the bodies and re-bury them in a different location.According to court documents, that witness’ statements were “consistent with electronic evidence” that they had collected throughout the investigation.MORE COVERAGE: James and Titus appear in courtOn Feb. 2, James and Titus were arrested in connection with the case.Then on Feb. 5, both James and Titus were arraigned.A judge denied bond for James and set bond for Titus at 10% of $1 million.READ MORE: Lincoln police recover human remains while searching for missing Nebraska couple in Saunders CountyAlso on Feb. 5, Lincoln police announced they had recovered human remains near Malmo, Nebraska, in Saunders County. On Feb. 13, Lincoln police said autopsies positively identified the remains found as Hannah Neville and Roberto Tanner. The autopsy also confirmed the recovery of fetal remains, Lincoln police said.Additional suspects in custodyOn Feb. 11, Lincoln police announced four additional arrests: 47-year-old Ammie Mitchell, 57-year-old Kendall Hawthorne, 28-year-old Matthew Lickliter and 40-year-old Sheena Miller all face charges of accessory to murder and tampering with evidence.Officials said additional evidence and witness interviews helped Lincoln police investigators develop probable cause to make further arrests. Investigators said Miller was at the residence on Jan. 15 when James arrived. They got into James’ vehicle and drove about two miles north, with Tanner and Neville following them.READ MORE: Lincoln police announce four additional arrests in investigation for missing Nebraska coupleAccording to investigators, once at the location, James shot and killed Tanner and Neville, then Miller assisted James in moving their bodies and drove Neville’s vehicle back to the residence.Mitchell allegedly removed several personal items from Neville’s vehicle, and investigators said many of those have not been recovered.Investigators said Lickliter and James retrieved a torch before they drove separately to the area of 40th and Cornhusker in Lincoln, where Neville’s vehicle was later found burned, authorities said.Lincoln police said Lickliter and James then drove separately to an area near 40th and Branched Oak, near Davey, Nebraska, where investigators believe the bodies were initially disposed of, before they were moved to Saunders County.Hawthorne allegedly gave baby items from Neville’s vehicle to a friend. Investigators said those items are believed to have physical evidence, and some of the items have not been recovered. Lincoln police said they believe all four watched James and Titus clean their vehicle inside a garage at the residence.Latest from courtOn Feb. 11, a judge denied a request by Titus for a lower bond in her case. Her attorney asked that the bond be reduced to 10% of $250,000, citing that Titus does not have any prior criminal history and is not a flight risk. Titus’ attorney also said that her alleged involvement is “significantly less” than James’s and that Titus has two minor children that she is in charge of.The state objected, citing the nature and facts of the case, saying that Titus stayed silent at a time when it was crucial to speak up and that Titus allegedly participated in the destruction of evidence.James and Titus are scheduled to be back in court on March 5. Make sure you can always see the latest news, weather, sports and more from KETV NewsWatch 7 on Google Search.NAVIGATE: Home | Weather | Local News | National | Sports | Newscasts on demand |
Two people have been charged in connection with the deaths of a pregnant Nebraska woman and her husband.
Here’s what we know so far.
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Who are the victims
Hannah Neville, 26, was 32 weeks pregnant when she disappeared.
Court documents said her roommate reported her missing to police. The roommate claimed Neville traveled to Lincoln to pick of her husband, 27-year-old Roberto Tanner, but never returned home.
Who are the suspects
On Feb. 2, Lincoln police arrested Sterling James, 24, and his wife Sayde Titus, 22, in connection to the case.
At the time, police had not located the bodies of Neville and Tanner, but they believed they were dead after a witness told investigators James had admitted to shooting the couple, according to court documents.
PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Lincoln police believe pregnant woman, husband and unborn child dead; couple arrested
The affidavit also alleged the witness claimed James admitted Titus had helped him clean up following the shooting, and she helped him dig up the bodies and re-bury them in a different location.
Lincoln police: Missing persons case involving pregnant woman now homicide investigation
James, who is Tanner’s half-brother, is charged with two counts of first-degree murder, murder of an unborn child, and tampering with physical evidence.
If convicted, James could face the death penalty, according to court documents.
RELATED COVERAGE: Here are Nebraska’s 11 death row inmates and their crimes
Titus has been charged with multiple counts of accessory to a felony as well as tampering with evidence.
Timeline of events
According to court records, on Jan. 16, police found a silver 2009 Chevy Trailblazer engulfed in flames, and upon further investigation, it was found to be Neville’s vehicle.
Then on Jan. 28, Lincoln police found out a missing person’s report had been filed by Neville’s roommate in Stromsburg, Nebraska.
Court documents said the roommate hadn’t seen Neville since she went to pick up her husband from Lincoln on Jan. 15. The roommate also added that Neville has not been on social media since Jan. 15, “which was unlike her.”
The Lincoln Police Department launched an investigation in which they contacted James.
James, according to court documents, said he received concerning messages from his mother, who said Tanner was texting her about having “sexual fantasies with other family members.”
The affidavit said James stated Tanner was staying with his family, and when he went to talk to his brother about the messages, Tanner “made a reference to going to get a gun.” The affidavit said Tanner claimed before the two could talk, Tanner was picked up by someone in a dark SUV.
MORE DETAILS: Court documents reveal new details in the case of a missing Nebraska couple who are believed to be dead
Neville’s roommate was able to track down the whereabouts of Neville’s phone using Life360 and found it traveled to numerous places from Jan. 15 to Jan. 16.
Life360 tracking timeline:
- Arapahoe Street to 7600 Northwest 27th Street from 8 p.m. until 1:30 a.m. on Jan. 15
- Northwest 27th Street to North 40th Street and Branched Oak Road in a tree line from 1:50 a.m. to 5:43 a.m. on Jan. 16th
- Branched Oak Road to 1320 South Street at 5:59 a.m.
- 1320 South Street to a Lincoln landfill at Highway 77 and Bluff Road at 2:21 p.m.
Court documents said a witness came forward on Feb. 1, saying they saw James with a woman in the early hours of Jan. 16, and they also saw a deceased woman lying on the ground. The witness alleged the deceased woman was put inside an SUV before it left the property.
After receiving a tip that led investigators to a witness, the affidavit said that witness said James told them he shot Tanner several times as he was running away and shot Neville twice while she was in a car. The witness, according to court records, alleged James also admitted to burying the bodies as well as setting Neville’s vehicle on fire. Court documents also said the witness claimed James admitted that Titus helped him clean up after the shooting and then dig up the bodies and re-bury them in a different location.
According to court documents, that witness’ statements were “consistent with electronic evidence” that they had collected throughout the investigation.
MORE COVERAGE: James and Titus appear in court
On Feb. 2, James and Titus were arrested in connection with the case.
Then on Feb. 5, both James and Titus were arraigned.
A judge denied bond for James and set bond for Titus at 10% of $1 million.
READ MORE: Lincoln police recover human remains while searching for missing Nebraska couple in Saunders County
Also on Feb. 5, Lincoln police announced they had recovered human remains near Malmo, Nebraska, in Saunders County.
On Feb. 13, Lincoln police said autopsies positively identified the remains found as Hannah Neville and Roberto Tanner. The autopsy also confirmed the recovery of fetal remains, Lincoln police said.
Additional suspects in custody
On Feb. 11, Lincoln police announced four additional arrests: 47-year-old Ammie Mitchell, 57-year-old Kendall Hawthorne, 28-year-old Matthew Lickliter and 40-year-old Sheena Miller all face charges of accessory to murder and tampering with evidence.
Officials said additional evidence and witness interviews helped Lincoln police investigators develop probable cause to make further arrests.
Investigators said Miller was at the residence on Jan. 15 when James arrived. They got into James’ vehicle and drove about two miles north, with Tanner and Neville following them.
READ MORE: Lincoln police announce four additional arrests in investigation for missing Nebraska couple
According to investigators, once at the location, James shot and killed Tanner and Neville, then Miller assisted James in moving their bodies and drove Neville’s vehicle back to the residence.
Mitchell allegedly removed several personal items from Neville’s vehicle, and investigators said many of those have not been recovered.
Investigators said Lickliter and James retrieved a torch before they drove separately to the area of 40th and Cornhusker in Lincoln, where Neville’s vehicle was later found burned, authorities said.
Lincoln police said Lickliter and James then drove separately to an area near 40th and Branched Oak, near Davey, Nebraska, where investigators believe the bodies were initially disposed of, before they were moved to Saunders County.
Hawthorne allegedly gave baby items from Neville’s vehicle to a friend. Investigators said those items are believed to have physical evidence, and some of the items have not been recovered.
Lincoln police said they believe all four watched James and Titus clean their vehicle inside a garage at the residence.
Latest from court
On Feb. 11, a judge denied a request by Titus for a lower bond in her case. Her attorney asked that the bond be reduced to 10% of $250,000, citing that Titus does not have any prior criminal history and is not a flight risk. Titus’ attorney also said that her alleged involvement is “significantly less” than James’s and that Titus has two minor children that she is in charge of.
The state objected, citing the nature and facts of the case, saying that Titus stayed silent at a time when it was crucial to speak up and that Titus allegedly participated in the destruction of evidence.
James and Titus are scheduled to be back in court on March 5.
Make sure you can always see the latest news, weather, sports and more from KETV NewsWatch 7 on Google Search.
NAVIGATE: Home | Weather | Local News | National | Sports | Newscasts on demand |
