Neptune City Man Charged With Sarah Stern's Murder Describes Her Agonizing 30-Minute Death

Liam McAtsney wanted to make sure his friend Sarah Stern was dead.

So he watched her die as he strangled her in her family's home. He watched her for half an hour until he was sure, according to a report by nj.com.

McAtasney gave the description of the killing to a friend, who secretly videotaped a meeting between the two in which McAtasney provided details of the strangulation, Assistant Monmouth County Prosecutor Meghan Doyle said.

"He knew exactly how long it was because he chose to time it," Doyle said.

At one point in the tape, McAtasney says he actually lifted Stern with such force that he lifted her off the ground.

That was enough for Monmouth County Superior Court Judge David Bauman. He ordered McAtasney to remain in the Monmouth County Jail while his case is pending.

McAtasney's attorney, Charles Moriarty, did not fight the prosecution's attempt to keep his client behind bars but insisted after the detention hearing that McAtasney is innocent.

"He didn't hurt her and wouldn't hurt her," Moriarty said.

Doyle said then that McAtasney plotted Stern's execution for at least six months. He later telephoned Taylor, said he was going to murder Stern and then asked Taylor to go to Stern's house and move her body.

McAtasney, 19, has been charged with first-degree murder, first-degree felony murder, first-degree robbery, second-degree desecration of human remains and second-degree hindering.

Bauman also ordered last week that Preston Taylor, also 19, remains in custody while his case is pending. Taylor has been charged with second-degree desecration of human remains and second-degree hindering apprehension.

Authorities have said that after Stern was murdered, the two men threw her body into the Shark River off the Route 35 bridge in Belmar. Despite massive searches, her body has not been recovered. Stern disappeared on Dec. 2.
Images: Monmouth County Prosecutor's Office