NEPTUNE TOWNSHIP — With the second suspect in the disappearance of Sarah Stern set to appear in court on Tuesday, the first images of the discovery of Stern's car on the Route 35 bridge have become available.

In a police dashboard camera video released by authorities this week, a Neptune Township officer is seen coming upon Stern's gray Oldsmobile, parked on the shoulder of the bridge at 2:53 a.m. on Dec. 3.  He walks up to the car and shines a flashlight inside looking to see if anyone is inside. He walks back to his vehicle and calls in the registration and for a tow truck. He also asked the dispatcher to call the owner of the car so it can be retrieved before the tow truck arrives.

(L-R) Preston Taylor, Sarah Stern, Liam McAtasney
(L-R) Preston Taylor, Sarah Stern, Liam McAtasney (Monmouth County Prosecutor's Office)
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Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher Gramiccioni has said former classmate Liam McAtasney went to Stern's home, planning to rob her, and then strangled her to death.

Authorities say he then contacted friend Preston Taylor, and together they moved and disposed of her body.

McAtasney allegedly drove the Oldsmobile, which belonged to Stern's grandmother, to the Route 35 bridge with Taylor following in another vehicle. Together they threw the body off the bridge, according to Gramiccioni.

A detention hearing for McAtasney is scheduled in Monmouth County Superior Court on Tuesday to determine if he will continue to be held on first-degree murder charges.

Taylor was ordered to remain behind bars after a hearing last Tuesday. He is charged with second-degree desecration of human remains, second-degree conspiracy for allegedly disposing of Stern's body and second-degree hindering apprehension.

Contact reporter Dan Alexander at Dan.Alexander@townsquaremedia.com.

 

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