The cause of the fire was investigated as suspicious, with no immediate signs of the driver or passengers

😢 “She was 32 weeks along, excited and a little nervous, with baby clothes already folded at home. She told people she’d be back that night.” 😢

But Hannah Neville never came home. The pregnant 26-year-old left her small town of Stromsburg that January afternoon to pick up her husband Roberto Tanner in Lincoln. Her SUV was later found engulfed in flames on a Nebraska roadside—abandoned, torched, no sign of Hannah or the baby she was carrying.

What started as a routine drive turned into a nightmare.

The disappearance of 26-year-old Hannah Neville, who was 32 weeks pregnant, began as a routine afternoon errand but quickly escalated into one of Nebraska’s most troubling cases of 2026, culminating in homicide charges, multiple arrests, and the presumed deaths of Neville, her husband Roberto Tanner, 27, and their unborn child.

Neville left her home in the small town of Stromsburg on January 15, 2026, intending to drive to Lincoln to pick up Tanner. She told friends and family she would return that night. Baby clothes were already folded and waiting at home, a sign of her excitement and slight nervousness as she approached the final weeks of pregnancy. Neville had upcoming medical appointments she ultimately missed, raising immediate red flags.

The next day, January 16, Lincoln police responded to reports of a vehicle fire near 39th Street and Cornhusker Highway. Crews found Neville’s SUV abandoned and engulfed in flames in a cul-de-sac. The cause of the fire was investigated as suspicious, with no immediate signs of the driver or passengers. The Polk County Sheriff’s Office, where Stromsburg is located, issued an Endangered Missing Advisory through the Nebraska State Patrol due to her advanced pregnancy, missed appointments, and the torched vehicle.

Initial reports suggested possible foul play, especially amid unconfirmed accounts of relationship tensions. Neville’s roommate reported her missing on January 28 after not hearing from her since the 15th, prompting broader involvement from Lincoln Police Department (LPD).

The investigation intensified rapidly. On February 2, LPD announced they believed Neville and Tanner were deceased, charging Tanner’s half-brother, Sterling James, 24, with murder, and his wife Sayde Titus with accessory to murder. Court documents alleged James confessed to shooting the couple, burying their bodies, and setting Neville’s vehicle on fire.

Further details emerged in affidavits: Witnesses claimed James admitted to the killings after an altercation or dispute. On January 15, Neville and Tanner reportedly followed James and another individual to a location north of Lincoln. James allegedly shot both, with assistance in moving bodies and disposing of evidence, including driving Neville’s SUV back and torching it.

By February 5, human remains were discovered during a search of a Saunders County property. Authorities, awaiting pathology and autopsy results, stated they believed the remains belonged to Neville and Tanner. Autopsies were scheduled amid ongoing forensic work.

On February 10-11, LPD arrested four additional individuals: Ammie Mitchell, 47; Kendall Hawthorne, 57; Matthew Lickliter, 28; and Sheena Miller, 40. All faced charges of accessory to murder and tampering with evidence. Investigators alleged they helped cover up the crimes—removing items from Neville’s vehicle, burning evidence with a torch, disposing of bodies initially near Davey before relocation to Saunders County, and cleaning vehicles.

One affidavit detailed Miller’s role in driving Neville’s SUV after the shootings, while others allegedly saw the bodies, removed personal effects (including baby items later given away), and permitted evidence destruction on private property.

Lincoln Police Chief Michon Morrow and investigators emphasized the case’s evolution through witness interviews, evidence review, and probable cause development. No motive has been publicly detailed beyond family-related tensions, though early speculation included disputes over living arrangements or finances.

The Stromsburg community—population around 1,100—reels from the loss. Friends described Neville as vibrant, the “life of the party,” and deeply devoted to impending motherhood. Tanner was remembered by relatives as caring and creative. A step-sister of Tanner shared emotional memories online, highlighting the family’s grief.

Vigils and tributes have emerged, with locals expressing shock at the violence touching their quiet town. “We’re all thinking about them,” one resident told KSNB Local 4. Friends like Bree Johnson lamented the senselessness: “She didn’t deserve this… we didn’t deserve that either.”

The case underscores vulnerabilities in domestic and familial conflicts, with authorities stressing the importance of reporting concerns early. Nebraska’s Endangered Missing Advisory system proved critical in mobilizing resources.

As autopsies conclude and charges proceed, the focus shifts to justice for Neville, Tanner, and their unborn child. Family members have not spoken extensively publicly, but community support includes fundraisers for memorials and remembrance efforts.

The burned SUV—once a symbol of hope for a new family—now stands as evidence in a tragedy that has shattered lives across central Nebraska. Investigators continue piecing together the final hours, urging any additional witnesses to come forward.