Liam McAtasney found guilty of murdering childhood friend Sarah Stern

A Monmouth County jury has convicted Liam McAtasney in the murder of his former high school classmate Sarah Stern.

News 12 Staff

Feb 26, 2019, 9:00 PM

Updated 1,897 days ago

Share:

Liam McAtasney found guilty of murdering childhood friend Sarah Stern
A Monmouth County jury has convicted a Neptune man in the murder of his former high school classmate and childhood friend.
Liam McAtasney, 21, was found guilty of murder, felony murder and five other related charges in the death of his former friend and classmate Sarah Stern, who was then 19 years old.
Deliberations started Monday, with the jury asking to review several videos presented during the trial, including a secretly recorded video in which McAtasney describes in great detail to a friend how Stern died and what he and Taylor did to her body after she was dead.
Deliberations continued Tuesday, with the jury coming to a decision after only a few hours.
Prosecutors said McAtasney strangled Stern inside her Neptune Township home in December 2016 in order to steal money that she recently inherited. McAtasney and his friend and roommate Preston Taylor then threw Stern’s body off the Route 35 Bridge in Belmar into the Shark River below.
McAtasney and Taylor left Stern’s car at the bridge and staged it to look like she had jumped from the bridge in an act of suicide.
Stern was reported missing following her death, leading to a large search effort by friends and family. McAtasney and Taylor participated in the search effort, with McAtasney even giving interviews to media outlets about her disappearance.
Stern’s body has never been found.

Police eventually named McAtasney and Taylor as suspects in Stern’s disappearance and charged them with her murder.
Taylor pleaded guilty to his role in the crime and testified for the prosecution. He faces up to 20 years in prison as part of the plea deal.
McAtasney now faces life in prison without the possibility of parole at sentencing.
 


More from News 12
0:27
Clayton police: Man, woman found dead inside apartment in reported murder-suicide

Clayton police: Man, woman found dead inside apartment in reported murder-suicide

2:32
STORM WATCH: Afternoon welcomes sunshine and temps near 86 degrees

STORM WATCH: Afternoon welcomes sunshine and temps near 86 degrees

0:30
Russian national charged in New Jersey with developing and operating LockBit ransomware

Russian national charged in New Jersey with developing and operating LockBit ransomware

0:31
Westfield police warn about apartment rental scam on social media

Westfield police warn about apartment rental scam on social media

1:14
Early morning storms expected to impact morning commute in New Jersey

Early morning storms expected to impact morning commute in New Jersey

0:29
Officials: 2 oil tanker engineers accused of dumping oily waste off coast of New Jersey

Officials: 2 oil tanker engineers accused of dumping oily waste off coast of New Jersey

0:24
Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center nurses host Met Gala-like fashion show for Nurses Week

Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center nurses host Met Gala-like fashion show for Nurses Week

0:24
Police: Juvenile charged for making fake threat at Warren Middle School

Police: Juvenile charged for making fake threat at Warren Middle School

0:27
Police: Car crash into Little Ferry adult school caused by faulty brakes

Police: Car crash into Little Ferry adult school caused by faulty brakes

0:22
Trocheck's power-play goal lifts Rangers to 4-3 win over Hurricanes in 2OT for 2-0 series lead

Trocheck's power-play goal lifts Rangers to 4-3 win over Hurricanes in 2OT for 2-0 series lead

2:46
8 tips for children walking or bicycling to school

8 tips for children walking or bicycling to school

1:27
What's Cooking: Uncle Giuseppe's quiche lorraine

What's Cooking: Uncle Giuseppe's quiche lorraine

2:36
Panera to discontinue Charged Lemonade following multiple death lawsuits

Panera to discontinue Charged Lemonade following multiple death lawsuits

0:26
Quintuplets graduate from Montclair State University

Quintuplets graduate from Montclair State University

1:50
Tractor-trailer carrying logs overturns near Little Falls day care playground; no injuries reported

Tractor-trailer carrying logs overturns near Little Falls day care playground; no injuries reported

Authorities: No indication of plane crash in Barnegat despite receiving distress signal

Authorities: No indication of plane crash in Barnegat despite receiving distress signal

0:39
State Republicans call for legislative hearings into how Rutgers handled pro-Palestinian protest

State Republicans call for legislative hearings into how Rutgers handled pro-Palestinian protest

0:42
Jersey Proud: Eagle Scout builds bocce courts at Middlesex church

Jersey Proud: Eagle Scout builds bocce courts at Middlesex church

1:39
Officials: 1 person injured in fire that destroyed Watchung home

Officials: 1 person injured in fire that destroyed Watchung home

2:06
Vietnam Veterans’ Memorial and Museum reopens to visitors following renovations

Vietnam Veterans’ Memorial and Museum reopens to visitors following renovations