One Of Two Men Charged in Connection With Sarah Stern's Murder Denied Bail

FREEHOLD - Preston Taylor, the 19-year-old Neptune man charged with helping his friend throw Sarah Stern off the Belmar bridge in December, isn't going anywhere soon, according to app.com.

Monmouth County Superior Court Judge David F. Bauman ordered Taylor to remain in jail while awaiting trial for his part in helping Liam McAtasney, also 19, to plan Stern's murder.

Meghan Doyle, an assistant Monmouth County prosecutor told Bauman that Taylor confessed to his role in the death and told authorities that McAtasney had planned the murder at least six months before.

Bauman issued the ruling after Taylor's father, Jeremiah, testified that he and his wife removed their son's clothing from the apartment he shared with McAtasney and took it to his family's home to wash it.

Jeremiah Taylor also testified that he found evidence at the apartment that his son smoked marijuana, but he did not bring that information to police.

That omission concerned Bauman, who questioned whether Jeremiah Taylor could guarantee that his son would not attempt to obstruct justice if his son was released to his custody

"It does raise the new concern, particularly removing everything, washing everything,'' Bauman said. "It just was a very interesting choice of words, and it gives the court pause.''

Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher Gramiccioni would not comment on whether washing Taylor's clothes could have destroyed evidence or if his parents could be charged with a crime.

Preston Taylor's mother, Kristen Taylor, broke down crying when the judge issued his decision.
The decision came after a number of family friends testified to Preston Taylor's good character.

"He's always been a good kid, a good student,'' testified Gregory Gannon of Allenhurst. "He's a fine young man.

Earlier, Doyle laid out information to persuade Bauman to keep Preston Taylor in jail.

That included a statement he gave to investigators on Feb. 1 in which he said McAtasney plotted Stern's execution for at least six months, Doyle said.

Taylor told detectives he knew his former roommate, McAtasney, murdered Stern, Doyle said.

McAtasney called Taylor on the day of the murder and told him,'' "I'm at the bank. I'm going to do it now. I'm going to take her out,'' Doyle said Taylor told investigators.

Taylor told them that McAtasney said, "Dude, I did it. I'll go there later, but I need you to go there now and remove her body,'' Doyle said.

McAtasney also told Taylor to look for his cell phone in Stern's house, Doyle said Taylor told investigators.

Taylor complied, but could not find the cell phone and left Stern's house without it. He removed Stern's body from the home and put it under a bush in the backyard, Doyle said Taylor informed the police.

Stern's body lay under the bush for eight hours until Taylor and McAtansey returned there at 10:30 p.m., placed Stern's body in her car and then drove in two cars to the Belmar bridge, where they threw the murdered woman's body over the bridge and abandoned her car there, according to Doyle's account of Taylor's confession.

Taylor also gave a prior statement to police in December, while the search for the missing woman was underway, in which he denied knowledge of what happened to her, Doyle said.

Authorities had been searching for Stern since the discovery of her car atop the bridge in the early morning of Dec. 3.

Taylor and McAtasney were arrested last week. Both defendants were friends with the victim. Taylor and Stern attended the junior prom together.

Taylor is charged with concealing Stern's remains, conspiring with McAtasney to conceal the victim's remains, and obstruction of justice.
McAtansey is charged with those crimes as well as with Stern's murder, felony murder and robbery.

Gramiccionni has alleged McAtansey stole thousands of dollars from Stern.

Two safes belonging to the victim have been recovered - one containing clothing and the other cash, according to information that came out at the detention hearing.

McAtasney remains in jail and will have a detention hearing next week.

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Image: Monmouth County Prosecutor's Office