Bridge of Lies: The Abandoned Car

Summary

Bridge of Lies: The Abandoned Car

Podcast: 20/20 (ABC News)
Host: Juju Chang, with contributions by Debra Roberts
Episode Release: March 11, 2026
Main Theme: The mysterious disappearance of 19-year-old Sarah Stern along the Jersey Shore – a cold December night, an abandoned car on a bridge, and a town's search for answers. Episode one dives into the first hours after Sarah goes missing, blending methodical police work, family testimony, and the echoes of a close-knit community suddenly shattered.

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Episode Overview

This opening episode sets the tone for a gripping true crime series centered on the disappearance of Sarah Stern. It reconstructs the night her car was found abandoned, follows the evolving search and initial investigation, and paints a vivid portrait of who Sarah was. By episode’s end, listeners are left with a tangle of questions, speculative clues, and the chilling sense that the deepest betrayals may come from those closest to us.

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Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. The Discovery of the Abandoned Car

• Time: [02:33]

  • A driver spots a suspicious car on the Belmar Bridge, reporting it to police.
  • Police find a silver 1994 Oldsmobile 88, unlocked, with keys in the console, no sign of accident or breakdown, and “no id, no money, and no clothing” ([03:07]).
  • Unique items: Disney memorabilia and artwork in the trunk, but nothing that clearly identifies a missing person.

• Setting: The bridge connects Neptune City and Belmar across the powerful Shark River – a potentially perilous location that immediately raises the specter of suicide or foul play.

2. The Search for Sarah

• Initial police response ([04:52]):

  • Officers trace the car ownership to Lillian Stern, Sarah’s grandmother; it’s quickly determined that Sarah is missing.
  • Police search the Stern home: signs of life (Christmas decorations, family photos, Sarah’s dog Buddy), but Sarah is nowhere and there is “no suicide note” ([08:28]).
  • Michael Stern, Sarah's father, is out of state on vacation. Police inform him, and he begins a frantic trip back to New Jersey.

• Notable quote:

  “We went through the entire house, backyard, everything. There’s absolutely nobody home.” – Police Officer ([08:53])

3. Michael Stern’s Perspective

• Time: [09:32] to [12:11]

  • Michael describes being awakened by police and his confusion over Sarah’s missing car.
  • He recalls his last communication with Sarah, sharing joyful Disney World photos and their mutual love for Disney – “one of her favorite sayings…was reckless optimist.” ([21:42])
  • Michael’s growing worry and emotional turmoil as he rushes home, talking to police and family throughout the drive.

• Notable quote:

  “I hadn’t heard from her… Her text messages on the iPhones are coming back green. So no answer on her phone.” – Michael Stern ([10:28])

4. Who Was Sarah Stern?

• Character portrait ([17:55]–[21:15]):

  • Sarah was creative, quirky, widely loved, and deeply involved in both her local and online communities.
  • She suffered the loss of her mother in high school, dealt with emotional ups and downs, but friends and family describe her as funny, artistic, and social.
  • Close friendships are highlighted: neighbor Carly Draper calls her “a sister,” and friends remember her distinct sense of humor and artistic gifts.

• Notable quotes:

  “She was missing. Nobody knew where she was. It was a 19-year-old girl who would have normally been attached to her phone and she was off the grid.” – Jessica Easthope, local reporter ([17:55])

  “She did a nice snowman holding an ice cream cone.” – Michael Stern, on Sarah’s public art ([21:15])

  “She tried to put that on her cap during the graduation ceremony…she peeled a couple letters off and put them back on when she was waiting to go get her diploma.” – Michael Stern, about Sarah’s “reckless optimist” motto ([21:42])

5. Early Suspicions & Expanding the Investigation

• Time: [25:02]

  • Police canvas Sarah’s friends, focusing on Liam McAtasney, described as a close companion since first grade.
  • Liam’s mother, Megan, is approached, and the officers eventually find Liam at his own home.
  • On police body cam, Liam claims:

    “I just know she’s been trying to get away and tell me she’s going to Canada… She’s been real depressed lately.” ([29:44])

  • Officers probe for more: was Sarah in conflict with anyone? Was she suicidal? Did she just run away?
  • Friends and neighbors cast doubt, insisting Sarah was looking to the future and would not leave without telling loved ones.

• Notable exchange:

  Police Officer: “Trying to get away. Okay, Canada. She’s been real depressed lately.”
  Liam: “Her dad is crazy.” ([29:54])

• Summary of police impressions:

  “She’s not getting along with father. There’s all kinds of emotional issues with her. We got depression. We got all kinds of stuff dealing with here. And I got a car on top of a bridge.” – Police Officer ([30:56])

6. A Community in Shock, A Search Accelerates

• Neptune City reaction:

  • The narrative zooms out to describe a “tight knit community” ([17:04]), unused to tragedy of this scale.
  • Friends and police alike are torn between theories: accident, suicide, or something much darker.
  • By daybreak, search efforts intensify with divers and rescue boats on the Shark River ([31:15] onwards).

• Memorable moment:

  “I remember walking into my rain boots and it was low tide and I was like in the muck and thinking to myself, like, we’re never going to find anything because she’s in Canada.” – Sarah’s friend ([31:23])

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• [02:33] – Abandoned car discovered on Belmar Bridge
• [04:52] – Police trace car, begin search at Stern family home
• [09:32] – Michael Stern notified, describes his last contact with Sarah
• [17:16] – Reporter Jessica Easthope on Neptune City’s close community
• [18:45 & 20:09] – Friends describe Sarah’s childhood, humor, and online presence
• [21:15] – Sarah’s artistic achievements and her struggles after her mother’s death
• [25:02] – Police approach Liam McAtasney, a key figure
• [29:44] – Liam suggests Sarah was depressed and wanted to go to Canada
• [31:15] – Search for Sarah intensifies, community coping with the unknown

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Notable Quotes

• "We went through the entire house, backyard, everything. There’s absolutely nobody home." – Police Officer ([08:53])
• "One of her favorite sayings during high school was reckless optimist." – Michael Stern ([21:42])
• "She was missing. Nobody knew where she was." – Jessica Easthope ([17:55])
• "Trying to get away. Okay, Canada. She’s been real depressed lately." – Police Officer & Liam ([29:44])
• "We got depression. We got all kinds of stuff dealing with here. And I got a car on top of a bridge." – Police Officer ([30:56])

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Episode Tone & Style

The episode mixes classic investigative reporting with intimate narration, alternating between methodical police inquiry and heartfelt, often raw testimony from Sarah’s friends and family. The community’s pervasive sense of shock and confusion is mirrored in the tone, and the lingering possibility of betrayal—and even something darker—underscores every revelation.

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Summary

Bridge of Lies: The Abandoned Car masterfully draws listeners into the eerie, uncertain hours after Sarah Stern’s disappearance. The meticulous unfolding of the timeline, emotional interviews, and police search threads a narrative of a young woman loved by many, suddenly gone without a trace—and a community desperate for answers but terrified of what they might be. The episode closes with growing suspicion, intensifying search efforts, and a hint that what’s to come will unravel "friendships, lies, and perhaps even betrayal."

Transcript

[Debra Roberts]

This is Debra Roberts. You're about to hear the first episode of the latest true crime original podcast from 2020 and ABC Audio, a shocking seven part series called Bridge of Lies. It's a heart pounding story about the mysterious disappearance of Sarah Stern, a 19 year old from New Jersey who had dreams of becoming an artist. When she disappeared, the only clue authorities discovered was her car parked on a bridge overnight. Friends offered theories that she may have jumped or fled to Canada, but troubling statements moved investigators to consider the possibility of foul play. Finally, a sting operation reveals a shocking betrayal. You're gonna have to hear it to believe we'll be sharing the whole chilling story on the 2020 podcast feed over the next seven weeks, starting right now with episode one. But if you are anxious to get started, you can find early episodes by following Bridge of Lies on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music or wherever you're listening now. Now here's episode one of Bridge of Lies.

[Narrator]

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[Police Officer]

Not an emergency actually. On the Belmar Bridge. In the middle of the bridge, there's a car that's abandoned.

[Narrator]

So what kind of car is it?

[Police Officer]

Kind of looks like an old beat up light car, tan Colored like sedan.

[Narrator]

The caller thinks it looks like a car someone in their 70s or 80s would drive.

[Police Officer]

And was there anybody inside the vehicle? I looked now.

[Narrator]

Okay.

[Police Officer]

Unless they were sleeping, I couldn't see them by their head being up. Nobody likes her in it.

[Narrator]

All right.

[Police Officer]

Okay.

[Narrator]

Police head to the bridge and find a silver 1994 Oldsmobile 88. It's rusty and some of the paint is flaking off. Inside, the leather seats are wrinkled and worn with big gashes that reveal yellow stuffing. But the strange thing is it doesn't seem like the car broke down or got in an accident. It's unlocked. The keys are in the center console. And the caller was right. Nobody is inside. There's also no id, no money, and no clothing. The trunk has some Disney memorabilia and artwork in it, but otherwise it's just an empty old car left on a bridge in the middle of the night. The bridge runs between Neptune City and Belmar across the Shark river, which flows out to the Atlantic Ocean. On this cold December night, the river has a strong current. Some of the officers walk down to the Belmar Marina to see if there are any clues by the water, but it's so dark, they can hardly see anything. As the waters of the Shark river rush into the ocean, the officers begin an investigation that will rock this sleepy shore town. An investigation that will make people question who they can really trust and what those closest to them are capable of. From ABC Audio and 2020 I'm Juju Chang, and this is Bridge of lies. Episode 1 the Abandoned Car.

[Police Officer]

Metoon City Place. Hello?

[Unknown Female (Caller or Resident)]

Hello?

[Police Officer]

Neptune City police?

[Michael Stern]

Hello?

[Narrator]

Police run the plates and figure out that the abandoned Oldsmobile is registered to a woman in her 90s. Her name, Lillian Stern. She lives about 10 minutes away from the bridge in Neptune City. Officers head to Lillian's house, but they're actually looking for her granddaughter, Sarah Stern, who they've learned by now typically drives the Oldsmobile and lives with her father and her grandmother. Police shine their flashlights as they check the perimeter of the Sterns house, and then they prepare to enter. From body camera footage, we can see it's very dark outside. There are just a few glimmers of distant light coming from porches throughout the neighborhood. The street's quiet and residential. It has sidewalks and modest homes with short driveways and fenced in yards. The Stearns house is white with black window shutters. Sarah and her father both grew up in this house where police are now knocking, but no one answers.

[Police Officer]

We're getting no answer at the house. I might go inside. And make sure everything's kosher here. I don't. I want to make sure we don't have a jumper.

[Narrator]

A jumper? It's an early theory, perhaps the most obvious for why the car might have been left on the bridge in the middle of the night. Maybe the driver parked then climbed over the edge before walking into the house. Officers worry someone might be home.

[Police Officer]

I'm pretty sure we're going to run into Mike in there.

[Narrator]

Mike? Michael Stern. That's Sarah's dad.

[Police Officer]

Be prepared for if Mike is home for him to be pissed. He may be out of state, but who knows?

[Narrator]

The front door is unlocked and they head inside.

[Police Officer]

We're gonna make ourselves very well known by yelling and screaming, bang on walls.

[Narrator]

The home is mostly dark, but there's a small lamp and overhead light on in the living room.

[Police Officer]

Hello? It's the police department.

[Narrator]

Hello?

[Police Officer]

Anybody home? Announce yourself, please.

[Michael Stern]

Hello?

[Police Officer]

I guess the grandmother's not here.

[Narrator]

A big dog is locked in a crate, its body Sarah's 10 year old foxhound. He's brown and white with floppy ears and big brown eyes.

[Police Officer]

Somebody put the dog in a cage.

[Michael Stern]

Hello?

[Police Officer]

Police department? Hello?

[Sponsor Voice]

Buddy.

[Police Officer]

Good doggie.

[Narrator]

The officers shine their flashlights into every corner of the house, putting a quick spotlight on family photos, Christmas decorations and poinsettias, and even more Disney memorabilia, including Goofy and Mickey figurines. They check the living room, the bathroom and a few rooms that look like they're being used for storage. Full of tubs and boxes.

[Police Officer]

Wow, this house is jammed packed. You talk about a fire hazard.

[Narrator]

Then they make their way to Sarah's room. She's recently graduated from high school, but it still looks and feels like a childhood bedroom. Her door is covered with mini license plates that say Sarah, a sign that says Sarah street and a sticker that reads caution Sarah's room. There are lots of mementos on the walls and a Canadian flag hanging from the ceiling. But the two officers are struck by what they don't find anywhere in the house. Clues to Sarah's whereabouts.

[Police Officer]

Didn't find any suicide notes either.

[Narrator]

On their way out, the officers go through the kitchen. There's a clock on the wall and boxes of crackers stacked up on the fridge. An officer opens up a cookie jar to get a dog. Treat for Buddy. A treat for the doggie. A treat for the good doggie. Besides Buddy, the house is empty.

[Police Officer]

We went through the entire house, backyard, everything. There's absolutely nobody home.

[Narrator]

They leave with the same question they started with. Where is Sarah Stern?

[Police Officer]

Well, I guess Neptune's Gonna have to figure out what their mindset of this kid is.

[Narrator]

Neptune's gonna have to figure out what the mindset of this kid is. So while these officers were going through the Stern's house, other investigators were tracking down Sarah's dad, Michael. Turns out he wasn't home because he was on vacation in Orlando, Florida with his girlfriend.

[Michael Stern]

And phone rang around three o'clock in the morning. Monmouth County Sheriff's Department. Do you know anything about a car, you know, gray Oldsmobile? And I said, yeah, my daughter drives that car. Then they hung up.

[Narrator]

Michael called back, but got an answering machine. He wanted to know what was going on. Why were police asking about Sarah's car in the middle of the night? So he reached out to his nephew who was a first responder in Neptune.

[Michael Stern]

And I asked him, I said, find out if anything's going on with the car, whether it was an accident. Didn't know, maybe the car is, you know, stuck someplace or parked someplace where it shouldn't be. No parking zone or, you know, tow away zone. Didn't know. And he called back a few minutes later and said, yeah, they found the car up on the bridge in Belmar.

[Narrator]

Naturally, Sarah's dad started calling and texting her, but she didn't respond.

[Michael Stern]

I hadn't heard from her. I mean, her text messages on the iPhones are coming back green. So no answer on her phone.

[Narrator]

The police pinged Sarah's phone to try and locate it, but nothing came back. All they could see is that earlier in the night, her phone was in Neptune City and another town nearby. The last time Michael Stern says he spoke to his daughter, just a day earlier, she'd seemed completely normal. He says he told her about his trip to Disney World, which they both loved.

[Michael Stern]

Sent her a couple pictures of the castle and lit up for Christmas at Cinderella's castle. And just happened to be that afternoon, there was a rainbow over the magic Kingdom. I sent her a picture of that too. And she just said it was great.

[Narrator]

Michael wasn't sure what to think or how afraid to be until the police called him back after their search of the house.

[Michael Stern]

Not in the house. So now we're kind of wondering what's going on. Yeah, I was thinking something happened, so a million things go through your mind.

[Narrator]

He quickly packed up his things and began the long drive from Florida back to his New Jersey home.

[Michael Stern]

At 3:34 o' clock in the morning, there's no traffic, so you can. He can drive pretty quick, but talking constantly to the police. They would call, I would call them and getting calls from family. And we're still looking for Sarah.

[Narrator]

As he drove down the empty highway in the dark, his mind was racing. What could have happened to his only child? Where could she be?

[Debra Roberts]

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[Narrator]

Sarah Stern's hometown, Neptune City, New Jersey is pretty small population less than 5,000. Neptune City is a short drive from legendary Jersey Shore landmarks like Belmar's E Street, which Bruce Springsteen's E Street Band is named after, and Asbury park, where the Boss's career first took off with hits like Blinded by the Light. Blinded by the Light A lot of people associate the Jersey Shore with the big parties and the drama in the MTV reality show Jersey Shore. But the area also has quiet, wealthy neighborhoods with mansions on the water. And then there are the laid back working class towns of mostly year round residents like Neptune City. In town there are a few bars and coffee shops, a handful of Italian restaurants and pizzerias, but other than that, a lot of quiet streets lined with houses.

[Jessica Easthope]

Neptune City, New Jersey is as small town USA as it gets. It's a small, tight knit community of people whose families have lived there for generations.

[Narrator]

Jessica Easthope covered Sarah's disappearance for fios one News, a local news channel at the time.

[Jessica Easthope]

It's a middle and working class community. It's not the fancy Jersey Shore that you're gonna get in Spring Lake. It's more run of the mill sleepy town.

[Narrator]

But on December 3, 2016, it was not a run of the mill sleepy town. As police worked through the night, word was spreading that a car had been Abandoned on a bridge and its 19 year old driver was nowhere to be found.

[Jessica Easthope]

Often when things like this happen, this young woman becomes everyone's daughter. She was missing. Nobody knew where she was. It was a 19 year old girl who would have normally been attached to her phone and she was off the grid.

[Narrator]

Sarah and her family were well known in Neptune City for decades. Her parents had a bookstore in town called Books Unlimited, and for a time her mom, Carla was president of the parent teacher organization. Sarah spent her whole life in the same neighborhood, the same house, without any siblings. She really grew up with the kids who lived around her. Her neighbor Carly Draper said the two were raised like sisters. They always dropped by each other's houses and played together all the time.

[Sarah's Friend]

My parents had bought a little outdoor like table and umbrella that were for kids and two little lawn chairs and we would sit out there all the time in the summer when we were little and just have like little pizza rolls and like iced tea. And my parents got flamingo sprinklers from Costco. Whenever their arms would go, the water would shoot out and we'd just play back there all day long, sitting on the chairs and playing the sprinklers.

[Narrator]

As Sarah got older, she built a community online too. Like so many teenagers in the 2010s, she expressed herself through her Tumblr account. She shared art, comics and posts about how great dogs are. She posted about funny, quirky TV shows like Broad City and Bob's Burgers. She shared memes of the comedian Kate McKinnon and things like, as a 19 year old, I oddly love Target, as if I were a suburban mom of four. She was also really into YouTube channels and personalities. Just as the platform was starting to take off for content creators, Sarah became friends with other superfans around the world and they recorded their Google hangouts for a YouTube channel called Sprinkled Nonsense. They weren't really talking to an audience. They were just chatting with each other and putting it out there. Hey, Sarah, when did you hear? Hey, how did eating go?

[Police Officer]

What did you eat?

[Sarah's Friend]

Oh, Jesus.

[Narrator]

I had pork chops and yogurt. And yogurt. What? Not together as the dessert. Sarah was known for her quirky sense of humor. In a high school yearbook photo, she made a mustache out of her long, straight, dark brown hair, and a few girls next to her joined in. Sarah has brown eyes, and when she smiles, she has big dimples. Belinda Souza, Sarah's friend and softball teammate, said she had a gift for making people laugh. Sometimes, like when you're with her, you

[Friend or Interviewee]

Just forget about everything around you. And it's just.

[Narrator]

It's you and her and whatever funny,

[Friend or Interviewee]

crazy story she's telling and you're just joking.

[Narrator]

Sarah was also known throughout Neptune City for her artwork in. In high school, she got really into drawing portraits and doing illustrations. She joined her high school's art club and won the most artistic superlative her senior year. She even painted an illustration on the windows of a local restaurant.

[Michael Stern]

She did a nice snowman holding an ice cream cone.

[Narrator]

Her dad said making art might have been a way to cope with grief. Sarah's mom passed away from cancer when Sarah was a sophomore. Her family and friends said she went through ups and downs and struggled emotionally. But Michael said one of her favorite sayings during high school was reckless optimist.

[Michael Stern]

She tried to put that on her cap during the graduation ceremony. And one of the teachers or advisors, you have to take that stuff off. Well, she peeled a couple letters off and put them back on when she was waiting to go get her diploma.

[Narrator]

She graduated in 2015, and the summer after graduation, Sarah worked as a badge checker at Bradley Beach, a classic job for a Jersey Shore teenager. She took some classes at a community college, worked odd jobs, and was figuring out what to do next. She ultimately wanted to pursue a career in art. When Sarah's car was found on the bridge, she was at the very beginning of her adult life. She was seeking her place in the world, eager to explore, travel, and pursue her passions. Standing outside Sarah's house in the pitch dark, police know Michael Stern is on his way back from Florida. And they've learned that lillian Stern, Sarah's 96 year old grandma, is staying at a neighbor's house recovering from a medical procedure. But they are no closer to finding Sarah until they get some new information. Sarah spent the afternoon with a friend. So officers leave the Stearns house to knock on another door in the middle of the night, hoping for some clues about where Sarah could be.

[Unknown Female (Caller or Resident)]

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[Narrator]

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[Sponsor Voice]

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[Narrator]

Join us here on Hulu and Hulu on Disney, where we'll discuss each episode with the cast and crew of Paradise. I'll be getting all the secrets secrets from Dan Fogelman, James Marsden, Shailene Woodley, Julianne Nicholson and Sterling Kelby Brown. Paradise the official podcast is now streaming and stream Paradise Gone, Hulu and Hulu on Disney for bundle subscribers terms apply. Police head to another quiet residential street in Neptune City, just a few blocks from Sarah's house. They knock on the door and dogs start barking. The officers wait a couple of minutes and then see someone coming down the stairs. As the door creaks open, they cut right to the chase.

[Police Officer]

Is Liam home? Liam, is liam home?

[Narrator]

Liam McAtasney is the friend officers are looking for. His mom, Megan, is at the door. She's in pajamas, in a robe, and she's groggy from being woken up in the middle of the night. She tells officers that Liam doesn't live in her house anymore. He's a block away in a small two bedroom house the Matasney's also own.

[Police Officer]

Now, we're looking for a friend of his that that's possibly a missing person and she supposedly hangs out with him. Is he Sarah Stern? Does he hang out with her?

[Sarah's Friend]

Yes, Sarah's a very good friend.

[Police Officer]

Can you call Liam? Of course, if you don't mind.

[Narrator]

While police wait for Liam's mom to call him, another woman walks up to them in the dark. Robyn Draper lives across the street from Sarah. Her daughter Carly is one of Sarah's close friends, the one who was like a sister to Sarah growing up. Robin has talked to Sarah's dad, Michael, and managed to track down police in the middle of the night to share some information. She says the last time she interacted with Sarah, the day she went missing, Sarah dropped off a bin of her mother's things at Robin's house. Okay. She brought over today a bin. Can I bring my mother's stuff to your house?

[Police Officer]

So she brought a bin of stuff of her mother's to your house, taped over.

[Narrator]

And it's in my kitchen. I was out. I said, yes, I'll put it in the cubby. This seems to catch the officer's attention. Attention. Robin says it's a big bin taped shut and she doesn't know exactly what's in it. And I try texting her. And nothing. The two are close. Robin says Sarah wouldn't leave without telling her. She took care of Sarah sometimes when her mom was sick. And since her mother passed away, Robin says she's taken Sarah to doctor's appointments, the dentist, the gynecologist, even the ER when it seemed like she had appendicitis. As officers speak with Robin, Liam's mom, Megan comes out of the house and says Liam must be sleeping. He's not answering her phone calls.

[Police Officer]

We're gonna go knock, see if we can wake them up over there.

[Narrator]

The officer turns back to Robyn Draper and asks if she told Michael Stern about the bins Sarah brought over. She says no. While they speak with Robin, officers are still considering the possibility that Sarah jumped off the bridge. They're trying to understand her mindset.

[Police Officer]

Is she depressed?

[Sponsor Voice]

Is she.

[Narrator]

I think she's depressed. Is she

[Police Officer]

not suicidal anyway, do you think?

[Narrator]

I don't know.

[Police Officer]

All right, we're gonna continue to search them. Liam's on the other block. We're gonna go over there now.

[Narrator]

The officers get in the car and move on to their next stop. Liam McAtasney's house.

[Police Officer]

Counting from 3, 5, 5, 8. I'll be out at 11.

[Narrator]

Holly.

[Police Officer]

It's related to this call.

[Narrator]

Around 4:00am Police knock on Liam's door.

[Police Officer]

Liam, you. Liam, you got a second? Can I come in and talk to you real quick?

[Debra Roberts]

Yeah, no problem. Officer.

[Police Officer]

Is Sarah here by chance?

[Michael Stern]

No.

[Narrator]

The officers step into the house. It's dark inside. There are no lights on.

[Police Officer]

When was the last time you talked to her?

[Michael Stern]

I was with her today.

[Police Officer]

What time? Before I went to work. So it was earlier today?

[Narrator]

Yeah. The officer turns on a light and he can see Liam more clearly. He's wearing a gray T shirt and shorts. He's tall, 6 foot 2, with blue eyes and wavy blond hair. That's messy. On police body camera footage, it seems like he's just woken up.

[Police Officer]

When was the last time you had any kind of contact at all with her? We went to get food today.

[Narrator]

Liam and Sarah have known each other since the first grade. They grew up with a tight circle of friends. In middle school, their group even had a name. The squad. As they got older and graduated from high school, Liam and Sarah still hung out pretty regularly.

[Police Officer]

You went to work at what time?

[Michael Stern]

Four thirty.

[Police Officer]

Okay, so you haven't talked to her since 4:30? You have a cell phone you can reach out to her on? I actually haven't been able to find my cell phone.

[Narrator]

Liam says he's been looking for his phone but can't find it.

[Police Officer]

Keep looking for your cell phone, man, because we're trying to find Sarah. What was her mindset last time you talked to her? I just know she's been trying to get away and tell me she's going to kill Canada.

[Narrator]

This is the first time officers are hearing that Sarah may have run away.

[Police Officer]

Trying to get away. Okay, Canada. She's been real depressed lately.

[Michael Stern]

Her dad is crazy.

[Narrator]

It's also the first time they're hearing that Sarah may have had a strained relationship with her dad. The officers only talk to Liam for a few minutes. He says he doesn't know where she is. He says he hasn't heard from her. There's not much more to talk about. As the officers head out, they try to press upon him just how serious this all is.

[Police Officer]

Maybe reach out some friends, maybe hit our message on social media, start reaching out to somebody, see if anybody's talked to her or if they. When they talk to her, what her mindset was and all that. All right. Planning on getting a phone as soon

[Sponsor Voice]

as I wake up.

[Police Officer]

And yeah, we spoke. Do you hear anything? Called the Neptune City or Neptune Township police department?

[Michael Stern]

Let us know.

[Police Officer]

Thank you.

[Narrator]

When the officers get back in the car, one of them sums up everything they've learned during their middle of the night search for Sarah. It's a muddled picture of Sarah's life and mental state, shaped by their interviews with Robyn draper and Liam McAtasney.

[Police Officer]

She's not getting along with father. There's all kinds of emotional issues with her. We got depression. We got all kinds of stuff dealing with here. And I got a car on top of a bridge.

[Narrator]

Officers don't know what to make of the case.

[Jessica Easthope]

Is it a missing person? Is it a suicide? At this point, nobody knows.

[Narrator]

By daybreak, the search for Sarah will accelerate with divers and rescue boats on the frigid Shark River.

[Sarah's Friend]

And I remember walking into my rain boots and it was low tide and I was like in the muck and thinking to myself, like, we're never going to find anything because she's in Canada.

[Narrator]

And police will look more closely at Sarah's inner circle, examining friendships, lies, and perhaps even betrayal.

[Police Officer]

You're young. I want to make sure you get how important this is. This young girl is off the grid all of a sudden.

[Narrator]

How did Sarah simply vanish into the night? If you or someone you know are experiencing suicidal thoughts, substance use, or any other mental health crisis, please call or text the 988suicide and crisis lifeline. You'll reach a trained crisis Counselor for free 24 hours a day, seven days a week. You can also go to 988lifeline.org Bridge of Lies is a production of ABC Audio and 20 20, hosted by me, Juju Chang, produced by Camille Peterson and Sabrina Fang. Fact checking and production help from Audrey Mostek and Annalisa Linder. Tracy Samuelson is our story editor. Our supervising producer is Sasha Aslanian. Music and mixing by Evan Viola. Special thanks to Katie Dendos, Janice Johnston, Joseph Diaz and Michelle Margulis. Josh Cohan is our director of podcast programming. Eamon McNiff is our executive producer. Ryan Reynolds here from Mint Mobile with a message for everyone Paying Big Wireless Way too much. Please, for the love of everything good in this world, stop with Mint. You can get premium wireless for just $15 a month. Of course, if you enjoy overpaying. No judgments. But that's weird. Okay, one judgment anyway. Give it a [e-mail] Switch upfront payment of $45 for three month plan equivalent to $15 per month required intro rate first three months only, then full price plan options available, taxes and fees extra. See full [e-mail] from 30 for 30 podcasts. Say someone got shot.

[Police Officer]

Brian Pata, senior defensive lineman for Miami, gunned down the key to this case. It's Brian. An hour before he died, he was on the phone arguing with somebody.

[Narrator]

This might be a hit.

[Police Officer]

You want the truth? They just want a conviction. Being placed under arrest.

[Narrator]

We had a killer amongst us. Murder at the U. Listen now.