Ep 3. The Disappearance of Sarah Stern

In this episode of On The Case With Paula Zahn, the investigation focuses on the disappearance of 19-year-old Sarah Stern from her home in Neptune City, New Jersey. On December 2, 2016, Sarah's car was found abandoned on a bridge over the Shark River, her keys still in the ignition and her cell phone and purse inside. Despite extensive searches by local law enforcement and volunteers, no sign of Sarah was found.

As Paula Zahn delves into the case, she speaks with Sarah's father, Michael Stern, who was the last person to see her alive. Michael recalls the last night he saw his daughter, when she came home from work and they talked about their plans for the following day – Sarah was going to help her dad with some errands. The next morning, when Michael went to wake her up, she was gone.

Investigators quickly ruled out the possibility of Sarah running away – she was close with her family and had no reason to leave. They also discovered that her bank account and social media accounts had not been accessed since her disappearance, leading them to believe that foul play was involved.

As Paula Zahn interviews those involved in the investigation, a suspect emerges – Liam McAtasney, a friend of Sarah's who had been seen with her on the night she disappeared. Liam had a reputation for erratic behavior and had reportedly told friends that he had a plan to kill someone and get away with it.

Further investigation reveals that Liam and his roommate, Preston Taylor, may have been involved in Sarah's disappearance. Surveillance footage from a nearby convenience store shows the two of them withdrawing money from Sarah's bank account, and Taylor later admitted to police that they had disposed of Sarah's body over the bridge.

Paula Zahn explores the painstaking efforts of law enforcement to recover Sarah's body and build a case against her killers. With the help of a diving team, they searched the murky waters beneath the bridge where Sarah's car had been found and eventually found her remains. The medical examiner determined that she had died from strangulation.

As the trial for Liam and Preston unfolds, viewers learn about the evidence against them, including text messages in which they discussed the murder and their attempts to cover it up. The prosecution paints a compelling picture of two young men who callously planned and carried out the murder of a young woman they knew and then tried to profit from it. Ultimately, Liam McAtasney is found guilty of murder and sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole, while Preston Taylor is sentenced to 18 years in prison.

The disappearance of Sarah Stern is a tragic story that highlights the dangers of getting involved with the wrong people and the importance of perseverance in solving difficult cases. Paula Zahn's investigation sheds light on the tireless work of law enforcement and the impact that a single act of violence can have on a community.