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The case of a missing 19 years old woman named Sarah Stern from New Jersey has finally took a major progress after a suspect was named with sufficient evidence that he’s related to the woman’s disappearing, the Asbury Park Press reports.
19 years old Liam McAtasney was accused of robbing Stern and killing her by strangulation and throwing her off a bridge in Belmar, New Jersey around the first few days of December last year.
According to Asbury Park Press, prosecutors are claiming that Stern was robbed after she was witnessed withdrawing a huge amount of money from the bank. Stern and McAtasney are also friends since their families have known each other for years.
Authorities alleged that after he found out about her cash, McAtasney tried to rob Stern and strangled her to death. McAtasney was then accused of calling his friend, Preston Taylor, for assistance in lifting Stern’s body out of her home and throwing her off the bridge.
According to Asbury Park Press, McAtasney and Taylor threw her off the Route 35 bridge. The fixed vertical clearance between the bridge and the surface of the water is 50 feet.
Stern’s car was discovered near the bridge. They initially thought that Stern jumped off the bridge to commit suicide.
McAtasney is charged with murder, felony murder, robbery, disturbing human remains, and conspiring with another to disturb human remains.
Taylor, who is also 19 years old, is charged for being an accomplice and conspiring with a suspect to cover up a crime and hide evidence.
Stern’s body cannot be found due to the fact that the Shark River below the bridge is connected to the see. Prosecutors believed that her body may had been washed into the larger body of water.
Michael Stern, Sarah’s father, was represented by attorney Charles Stone. Stone said about his client, “He’s overwhelmed, as any parent would be. This is the worst nightmare you could imagine as a parent.”
Chuck Moriarty, McAtasney’s attorney, said, “It does create a problem, if they don't have a body, if she shows up in three weeks and says this is all part of a joke.”
Moriarty added, “I know the families were close. The families were friends. If she is dead, it’s a tragedy.”
Christopher Gramiccioni, prosecutor from the Monmouth County, said, “We know they had a pre-existing relationship with Sarah Stern, growing up in the same area.”
Stern’s disappearance was initially categorized as a missing persons case. Words and testimonies from the community brought it into a case for criminal investigation.
