Superior Court Judge Nixes Sarah Stern Murder Suspect's Request For Change Of Venue: Report

FREEHOLD - Liam McAtasney - the suspect in the murder of 19-year-old Sarah Stern, will be tried in Monmouth County, according to nj.com

Monmouth County Superior Court Judge Lisa P. Thompson today turned down a request by his attorney to move the murder trial out of the county.

Charles P. Moriarty has termed the comments about his client on social media sites as "venomous" and "vitrolic" and said they were the worst he has ever seen in 40 years of practice. McAtasney would not be able to get a fair trial, he argued.

But Thompson said the limited number of comments and "likes" on social media pages wasn't enough to warrant a change of venue, in a county with 600,000 residents, and denied his request.

Assistant County Prosecutor Lisa said attorneys could "cross-reference" the comments during jury selection and weed out anyone they felt would not be able to listen to the case fairly.

Thompson also said the pre-trial coverage was not inflammatory and presented facts of the case with proper attribution and did not take a stance against McAtasney..

Moriarty can refile the motion if jury selection shows prejudice is "so pervasive" it will prevent McAtasney from having a fair trial, Thornton said.

McAtasney has been charged with first-degree murder, first-degree felony murder, first-degree robbery, second-degree desecration of human remains and second-degree hindering. He has pleaded not guilty.
He previously gave a description of the killing to a friend, who secretly videotaped a meeting between the two in which McAtsney gave a chilling description of Stern's death.

Also charged in the case was Preston Taylor, 19. Authorities contend that Taylor helped McAtasney move and dispose of the missing teen's body. Taylor was also charged with second-degree desecration of human remains and second-degree hindering apprehension, he said.

Taylor, Neptune pleaded guilty earlier this year to seven charges - robbery, conspiracy to commit robbery, disturbing or desecrating human remains and two counts each of hindering and tampering with evidence - for his part in Stern's murder. He agreed to testify against McAtasney.

Stern was last seen alive Dec. 2. Her body has not been found.

Law enforcement, volunteers and many others devoted hundreds of hours in a land and water search for the missing woman after her 1994 silver Oldsmobile 88 was found parked and empty on the shoulder of the Route 35 bridge in Belmar.

Stern had been strangled and her body was thrown over the bridge, authorities have said.

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Photo: Monmouth County Prosecutor's Office