Accused Murderer of Stromsburg Couple, Unborn Child to Undergo Competency Evaluation
Aug 05, 2026
Sterling James (Courtesy of Lancaster County Corrections)Hannah Neville (left) and Roberto Tanner. (Courtesy of Nebraska State Patrol)
LINCOLN–(KFOR Aug. 5)–A Lancaster County judge has granted a request from the attorneys for 24-year-old murder suspect Sterling James of Lincoln to undergo a com
petency evaluation.
It’s to see if he’s mentally fit to stand trial in the January deaths of 26-year-old Hannah Neville and his half-brother, 27-year-old Roberto Tanner, both of Stromsburg and Neville and Tanner’s unborn child.
Court documents filed Friday say James’ lawyers asked for the evaluation and the court ordered James to be evaluated at the Lincoln Regional Center. James was supposed to be arraigned Wednesday, but it’s now been pushed back to Aug. 19.
James is being held without bond, and his murder charges carry the potential for the death penalty.
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