THE INVESTIGATION into Sarah Stern’s disappearance resulted in several tragic discoveries.
The events of Sarah’s robbery and murder are retold in an episode of ABC’s 20/20 with David Muir and Amy Robach.
Who was Sarah Stern?
Sarah Stern was a 19-year-old New Jersey resident from Neptune City.
She graduated from the town’s high school and attended Brookdale Community College, where she studied arts and TV production.
On December 2, 2016, Sarah went missing and was last seen at her home that Friday afternoon.
Early the next morning, her car was found abandoned on a local bridge.
At the time, Sarah’s father, Michael Stern, told the NJ Advance: “It’s not like Sarah at all and we just don’t know.
“Everyone that talked to her in the days leading up to that, she seemed just fine. It’s a mystery.
“Everybody is concerned. She was a good kid, friendly with everyone.”
He added: “The questions fall off the edge of the map from Friday night. We just don’t know what happened.
“If someone saw something, we just want them to call and get the information to us so we can check it out.
“They haven’t come up with too many new leads. There are so many unanswered questions. We’re at a loss, really.
“Where are you, Sarah? Give us a call, come on home,” the father pleaded.
What happened to Sarah?
After investigating Sarah’s whereabouts for months, police made a breakthrough when they arrested two of her friends and former classmates.
On February 1, 2017, law enforcement apprehended Liam McAtasney and Preston Taylor in relation to Sarah’s missing person case.
McAtasney and Taylor were apprehended, in part, thanks to a recording police obtained from his friend, Anthony Curry.
In the recording, McAtasney confesses to the murder.
With the case evolved into a homicide probe, McAstney faced charges related to robbery and murder while Taylor faced charges for his role as the former’s accomplice.
Details that emerged from the trial revealed that McAstney and Taylor planned Sarah’s robbery and homicide months in advance.
In September 2016, the two learned that the late victim inherited a sizable amount of money from her late mother.
In order to deprive Sarah of the inheritance left to her, McAstney murdered her by strangulation on the night of her disappearance.
After he called Taylor, the two drove the victim’s car to Shark River and disposed of her body in the water to make it appear as if she had died by suicide.
On April 24, 2017, the trial jury convicted McAstney of:
- First-degree murder
- First-degree robbery
- First-degree felony murder
- Second-degree conspiracy to commit robbery
- Second-degree disturbing or desecrating human remains
- Third-degree hindering
- Fourth-degree tampering with physical evidence
Meanwhile, Taylor was convicted of robbery and other related charges for acting as McAstney’s accomplice.
On June 28, 2019, McAstney was sentenced to life in prison without parole, and Taylor was sentenced to serve 18 years in jail.
Despite her killer and conspirator serving time behind bars, Sarah’s body was never recovered from Shark River.
Sarah’s tragedy at the hands of her own friends is chronicled in a special episode of 20/20.
How can I watch Sarah’s episode of 20/20?
The 20/20 broadcast featuring Sarah’s case is titled With Friends Like These.
Friends Like These first aired on March 1, 2019.
For those who missed the initial broadcast, Sarah’s episode can be watched by streaming it on Hulu.
20/20 will begin airing a special docuseries called The Interrogation Tapes on April 1, 2024.
The true crime docuseries will re-examine six cases and reveal the strategies used by their respective detectives.
Sarah’s case will be included among the six cases and will be the premiere episode of The Interrogation Tapes.
True crime sleuths can tune in at 10 pm EST on ABC.
The tragedy was previously retold in an episode of Dateline NBC titled The Betrayal of Sarah Stern.