Man charged with death of preborn baby after killing his brother, brother's pregnant wife

A Nebraska man has been charged with two counts of first-degree murder and first-degree murder of an unborn child after confessing to killing his half-brother and pregnant sister-in-law.

Key Takeaways:

• Hannah Neville was 32 weeks pregnant when she went missing on January 15.

• An investigation into her whereabouts led police to learn that both Neville and her husband, Roberto Tanner, had been killed.

• Police arrested Sterling James — Tanner's half-brother — and his wife Sayde Titus, along with four other individuals.

• James is charged with two counts of first-degree murder and one count of the murder of an unborn child and Titus was charged with two counts of aiding and abetting first-degree murder. The others were arrested for accessory and tampering with evidence.

The Details:

Hannah Neville, who was 32 weeks pregnant, disappeared on January 15. Her roommate reported her missing after she didn’t return from picking up her husband, Roberto Tanner. The couple was missing for more than two weeks.

The police were able to figure out where Neville had gone by tracking her cellphone. This helped them find her car, which had been set on fire. The investigation led the authorities to Sterling James, Tanner’s half-brother, and James' wife, Sayde Titus. They were arrested on February 2, when Neville and Tanner were presumed dead but before their bodies were located.

James later admitted to killing both Tanner and Neville with the help of Titus. According to family members, there had been a conflict between the brothers.

The bodies of Neville and Tanner were found a few days after the arrest. The results of the autopsies confirming their identities, as well as Neville's pregnancy, were released on February 13. 

James was charged with two counts of first-degree murder and with the murder of an unborn child, a Class IA felony in Nebraska. Titus was charged with two counts of aiding and abetting first-degree murder. If convicted, James could be subject to the death penalty. James has previous felony convictions, including meth possession with intent to distribute, possession of a deadly weapon, and attempted burglary. He was incarcerated in May 2024 and released on parole in July 2025.

As the investigation continued, four others were arrested in association with the murders of Neville, Tanner, and their preborn baby. Sheena Miller, Matthew Lickliter, Ammie Mitchell, and Kendall Hawthorne all lived at the property where the murders took place, and reportedly helped to clean up the evidence and hide the bodies.

Each of these individuals was charged with two counts of accessory to murder and one count of tampering with evidence. They are being held at the Lancaster County Jail.

The Bottom Line:

This case shows the double standard that still exists when it comes to the value of preborn children: Abortion is considered acceptable and legal, yet the murder of a preborn child by someone other than the baby's mother is considered a heinous crime.

In Nebraska, preborn children are not protected from abortion before 12 weeks, and any child conceived in rape or incest can be targeted for abortion at any point in pregnancy.