LINCOLN, Neb. (KOLN) – The Lincoln Police Department confirmed Friday that human remains were found buried in a tree line on a private property on Tuesday near Malmo and Saunders County, an area of interest in the ongoing investigation of a missing Stromsburg couple.
Officers cannot confirm the identities of the remains or the conditions the remains were found in. Police said DNA testing will need to be done to confirm the identities.
“We can’t positively identify them from just looking at them,” said LPD Lieutenant Dustin Romshek. “So we are going to wait for the pathologist to do their investigation, which may take some time.”
Officers said there are multiple ownerships that converge in the area of the private property where the remains were found. Investigators will continue to search the area for personal items.
CSI technicians and investigators remain on scene collecting and processing evidence.
The Lincoln Police Department confirmed Thursday, Feb. 5, 2026, that human remains had been discovered on a Saunders County property, one of the locations authorities were searching for a missing Stromsburg couple.(Anthony Dagostino / KOLN)Death penalty sought in murder case
Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty for the Lincoln man accused of murdering his half-brother and his pregnant wife.
Sterling James, 24, and his wife Sayde Titus, 22, were arraigned in Lancaster County Court on Thursday. They’re accused in the murder of Hannah Neville, 26, and her husband, Roberto Tanner, 27 – both from Stromsburg.
Hannah Neville, 26, was last seen on Jan. 15 on her way to Lincoln to see her boyfriend, Roberto Tanner, 27, who is also missing.(Lincoln Police Department)
James is charged with two counts of first-degree murder, first-degree murder of an unborn child and tampering with evidence. He is being held without bond.
Titus is charged with two counts of accessory to murder, one count of accessory to murder of an unborn child and tampering with evidence. Her bond was set at 10% of $1 million.
The couple will be back in court on March 5.
Sterling James, 24, and his wife Sayde Titus, 22, were arraigned in Lancaster County Court on Thursday. They’re accused in the murder of Hannah Neville, 26, and her husband, Roberto Tanner, 27, a Stromsburg couple whose bodies have yet to be located.(10/11)Investigation details
Neville and Tanner were reported missing last week. Neville’s roommate told authorities she had not heard from Neville since Jan. 15, when she left to pick up Tanner in Lincoln.
Neville’s vehicle was later found engulfed in flames near 39th Street and Cornhusker Highway.
Cellphone data showed Neville and Tanner at James’ home before traveling to other locations and going offline on Jan. 16, according to court documents.
Witness accounts
According to court documents, a witness told authorities that James admitted to shooting Neville and Tanner shortly after leaving a home in Lancaster County. The witness said Tanner was shot while running on a dirt road and Neville was shot in a vehicle.
The witness said James allegedly admitted to digging up and re-burying the bodies at a different location, police wrote. Police believe Titus helped hide the bodies.
James and Titus were arrested on Feb. 1.
Court records show that James was out on parole before his arrest. He was sentenced to three years at the Community Corrections Center in Lincoln for attempted burglary, possession of a deadly weapon to commit a felony and possession with intent to deliver meth on May 23, 2024. He was released on July 31, 2025.
ALSO WATCH: Night Beat with Jessica Blum
Human remains found during search for missing Stromsburg couple, a Flood Watch is in effect for Platte, Elkhorn and Loup Rivers & more
Click here to subscribe to our 10/11 NOW daily digest and breaking news alerts delivered straight to your email inbox.
Copyright 2026 KOLN. All rights reserved.