The adults hosting the 3-year-old now face homicide-related and child-neglect charges stemming from a family gathering.
ELKHORN, Neb. — A 3-year-old child was taken into protective care after authorities said an argument about the child escalated into a fatal confrontation involving the child’s mother, her boyfriend and the child’s grandmother at an Elkhorn residence.
The child was temporarily placed with Project Harmony after Douglas County sheriff’s deputies found 57-year-old Jennifer Neiber dead inside the home Saturday night, authorities said. The child’s mother, Samantha Neiber, 25, and her boyfriend, Mason Clarke, 30, were arrested. Both face child abuse by neglect allegations, while Clarke also faces second-degree murder and Samantha Neiber faces an accessory charge. No physical injury to the child was reported.
The protective placement became necessary because the two adults responsible for the residence were taken into custody during a homicide investigation. Officials have not said where the child was later placed, who currently has custody or whether the child witnessed any part of the incident. The child has not been publicly identified, consistent with the privacy normally afforded to young children connected to criminal cases.
Project Harmony is an Omaha-area child advocacy organization that coordinates with law enforcement, child welfare professionals, medical providers and other agencies when children may have been exposed to abuse, neglect or violence. The organization’s role in this case was described as temporary. Authorities have not released details of any interview or evaluation involving the child, and there has been no public finding that the child was physically harmed.
The evening had begun with a barbecue hosted by Clarke and Samantha Neiber at their Elkhorn home, according to investigators. Jennifer Neiber, Samantha’s mother and the child’s grandmother, was among those attending. After the 3-year-old was put to bed, Jennifer Neiber and Clarke began arguing about the child. Clarke is not the child’s biological father, the sheriff’s office said.
Investigators have not explained what concern Jennifer Neiber raised or why the discussion became confrontational. They have not said whether she questioned Clarke’s behavior, disagreed with a parenting decision or was addressing another matter involving the child. The absence of those details is significant because the dispute’s subject has been publicly identified, but its substance remains unknown. Authorities have provided no basis for assigning a motive beyond the argument they described.
The verbal dispute then became physical, according to the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office. Investigators alleged that Clarke placed a sock into Jennifer Neiber’s mouth while Samantha Neiber held her mother’s wrists against the floor. Medical personnel from the Omaha Fire Department later pronounced Jennifer Neiber dead at the residence. Officials have not publicly released a complete autopsy report or provided a detailed medical explanation beyond the alleged circumstances described by investigators.
Deputies arrived at about 10 p.m. in response to a report of a suspicious death. The sheriff’s office said they found Clarke and Samantha Neiber sitting on a bed, with Jennifer Neiber on the floor in front of them. Authorities have not identified the caller, said how much time passed between the physical confrontation and the emergency report or disclosed whether anyone attempted lifesaving measures before first responders arrived.
Both adults were charged with child abuse by neglect without injury because investigators allege the child was placed at risk during the events in the home. The public reports do not identify the exact factual basis prosecutors will use to support those counts. A child-neglect allegation can involve conduct or conditions that endanger a child even when no injury is documented, but the state must prove the specific elements of the offense in court.
The child-related allegations run alongside, but are legally separate from, the charges connected directly to Jennifer Neiber’s death. Clarke faces second-degree murder, an accusation that requires prosecutors to establish the mental state and conduct defined by Nebraska law. Samantha Neiber faces an accessory allegation tied to a Class I felony. The sheriff’s office said she restrained her mother’s wrists, but the prosecution must still prove how her alleged actions meet the legal requirements of the filed charge.
The charging decisions reflect different accusations against the two defendants. Investigators accuse Clarke of performing the act they say caused Jennifer Neiber’s death. They accuse Samantha Neiber of physically assisting during the encounter, but the publicly reported charge against her is accessory rather than second-degree murder. Prosecutors may further explain that distinction in court filings. Charges can also be changed as a case develops, although authorities have not announced any revisions.
Local reports said Clarke spoke with investigators before his arrest and acknowledged that an argument involving the child had turned violent. The full interview has not been released, and isolated descriptions of an interview do not establish what Clarke said about intent, responsibility or the actions of others. Authorities have not published a comparable account of any statement by Samantha Neiber.
The defendants later appeared before a judge. Clarke was ordered held without bond, according to local reporting. Samantha Neiber’s bond was set at 10% of $500,000. Those decisions govern whether the defendants may be released while the cases proceed; they are not findings of guilt. Information about their pleas, defense positions and future hearing dates was not included in the materials available for this report.
The case leaves child-welfare authorities to address circumstances that extend beyond the criminal prosecution. The child’s mother is jailed, her mother’s boyfriend is accused of murder, and her grandmother is dead. Officials have not said whether another parent, relative or guardian is available. Courts and child welfare agencies generally handle placement issues separately from the public criminal docket, and much of that process may remain confidential.
The limited information released also leaves open whether the child heard the argument after being put to bed. Investigators have not described the layout of the home, the location of the child’s room or whether other adults were present. Reporting that the child was in the residence does not establish that the child saw the physical confrontation. Authorities have appropriately withheld information that could identify or further expose the child.
Jennifer Neiber’s reported concern for the child is part of the sheriff’s chronology, but investigators have not disclosed enough information to determine what she believed was happening. It is also unknown whether the family had prior disputes over caregiving, whether any court orders affected the child or whether child welfare agencies had previous contact with the household. No such history should be assumed without records or official confirmation.
For investigators, the immediate tasks include determining the exact cause and manner of Jennifer Neiber’s death, documenting the sequence of actions inside the home and evaluating statements from those present. For prosecutors, the case requires separate proof for the homicide-related count, the accessory allegation and the two child-neglect charges. For child-welfare officials, the central question is where the 3-year-old can safely remain while the adults’ cases move forward.
Investigators have not announced additional suspects or said that the incident poses an ongoing danger to the public. Clarke remained in custody without bond, while Samantha Neiber remained subject to the bond set by the court. The criminal investigation and the child’s confidential placement proceedings were continuing as of Wednesday.
Author note: Last updated July 15, 2026.