Missing Nebraska pregnant woman and partner believed dead
LINCOLN - Lincoln Police gave an update Monday on a missing pregnant woman and man.
The Lincoln Police Department is now investigating the disappearances of 26-year-old Hannah Neville and 27-year-old Roberto Tanner as homicides.
Both are believed to be deceased and LPD is working to locate their bodies. We are heartbroken for their families, and our deepest condolences go out to their loved ones who are processing the tragic loss of this married couple and the child they were expecting.
We have made two arrests in their deaths – 24-year-old Sterling James and 22-year-old Sayde Titus, a husband and wife from Lincoln. James is in the Lancaster County Jail on two counts of murder in the first degree. Titus is being held on two counts of aiding and abetting first degree murder.
The Polk County Sheriff’s Office alerted LPD on Wednesday evening, January 28, about the missing person’s report filed regarding Hannah, who is from Stromsburg, Nebraska. A missing person’s report regarding Roberto was filed on Thursday, January 29, in Lincoln.
Investigators worked tirelessly throughout the weekend in cooperation with Polk County to piece together what we believe happened:
Hannah’s roommate reported her missing in Polk County after not seeing her since January 15 when Hannah left Stromsburg to pick up her husband in Lincoln.
Location data and witness statements place Hannah and Roberto at James and Titus’s apartment at 1215 Arapahoe Street in Lincoln just before 7 p.m. on January 15.
Cell phone data shows Hannah’s device leaving at 8 p.m., arriving at 7600 NW 27th Street in Lancaster County and remaining there until 1:30 a.m. It traveled to multiple other locations before going offline on the afternoon of January 16.
Earlier that morning, just after 12:30 a.m., LPD also responded to a vehicle fire near 39th and Cornhusker. It was determined to be Hannah’s SUV. The cause of the fire was left under investigation by the Fire Inspector.
Officers called Hannah that morning to advise her of the fire, but her number was no longer in service. We now believe that was because she was likely already deceased at the time. LPD was not aware of her disappearance at the time of this discovery.
On Sunday, February 1,LPD served a search warrant at 7600 NW 27th Street in Lancaster County where several people were detained and interviewed.Investigators learned James admitted to shooting Hannah and Roberto and it occurred sometime in the late hours of January 15 or early hours of January 16.
LPD believes James then buried their bodies and set fire to Hannah’s vehicle. Titus is believed to have helped James after they were killed. James and Titus were both taken into custody at their residence.
The investigation is active and ongoing, including determining a motive. Anyone with information is asked to call our non-emergency number at 402-441-6000. To remain anonymous, call Crime Stoppers at 402-475-3600, report online at lincolncrimestoppers.com or download the free P3 app.