By Allison Peck
Lincoln, Neb. - Lincoln Police Department investigators say a missing Stromsburg couple and their unborn child are now believed to be victims of homicide, following an extensive investigation that has led to the arrest of two suspects.
The victims were identified by police as Hannah Neville, 26, and Roberto Tanner, 27, both residents of Stromsburg. Neville was pregnant at the time of her disappearance.
According to law enforcement, Neville was last known to have left Stromsburg on the evening of Jan. 15 to pick up Tanner in Lincoln. Investigators later determined the couple was at an apartment in Lincoln that night. In the early morning hours of Jan. 16, officers responded to a vehicle fire near North 39th Street and Cornhusker Highway. The burned vehicle was later identified as Neville’s SUV.
Police say the case escalated after multiple missing person reports were filed later in January, prompting a coordinated investigation involving several agencies. On Feb. 1, investigators executed a search warrant at a rural location northwest of Lincoln.
As a result of the investigation, police arrested Sterling James, 24, on two counts of first-degree murder. James is identified by police as Tanner’s half-brother. A second suspect, Sayde Titus, 22, was arrested on two counts of aiding and abetting first-degree murder.
In a statement released by the department, police said evidence and statements obtained during the investigation indicate the couple was killed late Jan. 15 or early Jan. 16. Investigators also believe the victims’ bodies were buried, though they have not yet been located.
“This investigation remains ongoing,” the Lincoln Police Department said in its official release. “While arrests have been made, investigators continue efforts to locate the victims and gather additional evidence.”
Police have not released a motive in the case. They confirmed the investigation remains active and that additional charges are possible as the case develops.
Anyone with information related to the investigation is asked to contact the Lincoln Police Department or submit tips anonymously through Crime Stoppers.