FREEHOLD — The man accused of strangling 19-year-old Sarah Stern during a robbery at her Neptune City home in December will learn Tuesday if he will remain behind bars while he awaits trial.
Liam McAtasney, 19, of Neptune City, is charged with murder, felony murder, conspiracy, hindering apprehension and disposal of human remains.
As part of recent bail reform guidelines, McAtasney will have a detention hearing in which prosecutors will argue why he should remain jailed. Superior Court Judge David F. Bauman will decide McAtasney’s fate.
Bauman last week ordered McAtasney’s alleged accomplice, Preston Taylor, 19, of Neptune City, to remain behind bars until his trial. Taylor is charged with conspiracy, hindering apprehension and disposal of human remains.
During Taylor’s detention hearing, prosecutors revealed that McAtasney had planned to rob and kill Stern for six months. Prosecutors also said Taylor was ordered by McAtasney to go to the home after the robbery and remove Stern’s body from the house.
Taylor hid Stern’s body under a bush at her house for eight hours before McAtasney and Taylor retrieved it, prosecutors said. The two then put Stern’s body in her vehicle and McAtasney drove the car to the Route 35 bridge in Belmar while Taylor followed in his own vehicle, prosecutors said. The two dumped Stern’s body over the bridge into the Shark River, prosecutors said.
In arguing for Taylor’s detention, Monmouth County Assistant Prosecutor Meghan Doyle said Taylor, if released, poses a threat to a witness who recorded conversations with Taylor and McAtasney.
Timeline of the disappearance and killing of Sarah Stern
Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher Gramiccioni has said that McAtasney robbed Stern of thousands of dollars. Investigators recovered two safes, one in Shark River Park and one in Sandy Hook, containing cash and articles of Stern’s clothing, prosecutors said.
Taylor is the one who led detectives to the two safes, authorities said.
Prosecutors still have not said what led detectives to suspect McAtasney and Taylor were behind Stern’s disappearance. The two grew up with Stern and went to Neptune High School with her. Taylor and Stern went to junior prom together.
Police found Stern’s car abandoned on Dec. 3 on the Route 35 bridge in Belmar with the keys inside.
Stern was considered a missing person for nearly two months before the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office announced it had made a break in the case and arrested McAtasney and Taylor.
Authorities have not recovered Stern’s body.
Alex Napoliello may be reached at anapoliello@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @alexnapoNJ. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
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