LINCOLN, NE – A Nebraska couple and their unborn child are believed dead, and another couple is behind bars as authorities unravel a chilling case that has left a small community reeling.

Sterling James, 24, faces charges of first-degree murder in connection with the deaths of Hannah Neville, 26, and her husband, Roberto Tanner, 27. His wife, Sayde Titus, 22, has been charged with aiding and abetting in what police describe as a calculated and violent crime.

The investigation began in mid-January, when Neville was reported missing after last being seen in Stromsburg, a rural town about 65 miles northwest of Lincoln. Friends and family grew increasingly concerned when Neville, who was 32 weeks pregnant, missed several prenatal appointments — something those close to her say was out of character for the expectant mother, who had been looking forward to the arrival of her child.

Authorities’ fears grew after Neville’s SUV was discovered abandoned and burned in a cul-de-sac in Lincoln ten days after she disappeared. The vehicle, found near 39th Street and Cornhusker Highway, was heavily damaged, its interior destroyed by fire. By that point, both Neville and Tanner had vanished without a trace, and their phones had gone silent.

Phone records and witness statements placed the missing couple at the apartment of James and Titus just before 7 p.m. on Jan. 15 in Lincoln. Neville’s device later traveled to another residence in Lancaster County, where it remained for several hours before both hers and Tanner’s devices stopped transmitting any signals the following day. The sequence of movements raised concerns for investigators, who soon realized the seriousness of the case.

A crucial search was conducted on Feb. 1 at the Lancaster County address where Neville’s cellphone was last active. Several individuals were detained as police combed the scene for evidence, piecing together the final known movements of the couple. While police have not released a motive, they allege that James confessed to shooting both Neville and Tanner before disposing of their bodies and torching Neville’s SUV. Investigators believe the couple’s unborn child also died as a result of these acts.

Law enforcement officials have confirmed the relationship between suspect and victims: James is reported to be Tanner’s half-brother, and Neville was his sister-in-law. Titus is accused of assisting James after the murders occurred.

Efforts to recover the remains of Neville and Tanner are ongoing. On Tuesday, officers from the Saunders County Sheriff’s Office and the Lincoln Police Department searched a rural location near an intersection where Tanner once lived, in hopes of finding the bodies.

The killings have shocked residents in both Stromsburg and Lincoln, with many struggling to comprehend the loss. The Nebraska State Patrol and multiple local agencies continue to investigate, following leads in what has become one of the state’s most disturbing homicide cases in recent memory.

As the legal process advances, both James and Titus remain in custody, awaiting their next court appearances. Authorities continue to urge anyone with additional information to come forward, emphasizing that the search for the victims and the pursuit of justice are far from over.