20/20: Bridge of Lies — "The Sting" (April 1, 2026)

Episode Overview

This tense and meticulously detailed episode of 20/20’s "Bridge of Lies" explores the pivotal undercover operation that broke open the mystery of Sarah Stern’s disappearance. With chilling undercover audio and emotional firsthand accounts, the episode retraces how Anthony Curry—former friend of both the victim and the suspect—turned informant to help police get a confession from Liam McAtasney. At stake: justice for Sarah, the safety of those involved, and the unraveling of a cold-blooded murder plot orchestrated for money.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. A Break in the Case: Anthony Curry Steps Forward

[01:17–04:54]

• Nearly two months after Sarah Stern vanished, police are contacted by Anthony Curry, a one-time close friend of Liam McAtasney (the chief suspect).
• Curry recounts to police a disturbing conversation from about a week before Sarah disappeared: Liam "pitched" a movie where he kills a girl—later revealed to be Sarah.
  • Quote:
    "He... told me about this idea he had to like, kill this girl." (Anthony Curry, [03:07])
• Liam allegedly said Sarah found $50,000, sparking his plan. Curry initially dismissed it as a drunken, outlandish film idea.
  • Quote:
    "I was like, yeah, he’s a little nuts, but I don’t know, I just thought it was a movie." (Anthony Curry, [04:47])
• Curry's fears intensify after Sarah's disappearance, especially after Liam follows up with ominous messages.
  • Quote:
    "Where you at? What are you doing? You gotta tell each one." (Anthony Curry, [07:19])

Curry's State of Mind

• He describes being tormented with fear for himself and his family.
  • Quote:
    "Felt like my family... if somebody’s capable of doing that, could, like, try to hurt my family or somebody I knew." (Anthony Curry, [07:42])
• Authorities view his story as possibly far-fetched, but note its detail and Curry’s visible fear.
  • Quote:
    "He was scared. He was scared. And Liam was aggressively trying to communicate with him..." (Detective Weisbrot, [08:56])

2. Going Undercover: The Police Set a Risky Plan

[09:21–14:10]

• Investigators ask Anthony to wear a wire and arrange a meeting with Liam.
  • Quote:
    "You can’t hide the truth on a wire." (Chris Decker, Assistant Prosecutor, [09:21])
• Curry’s initial recorded phone conversation with Liam is cautious, with Liam refusing to discuss details over the phone but not denying anything.
  • Quote:
    “Let’s just say I’m not as good off as I thought I was going to be.” (Liam McAtasney, [12:07])
• Decker points out the significance:
  • Quote:
    "When they’re talking about him borrowing some of that girl’s money… Liam is absolutely not denying it." (Chris Decker, [12:57])

3. The Sting Operation: High Tension, Full Confession

[17:01–36:09]

Setting the Stage

[17:01–21:31]

• January 31, 2017: the undercover meeting is arranged at a dark, quiet spot on the Jersey shore. Police equip Anthony’s car with cameras and microphones.
• Curry copes with nerves through music, noting the strange coincidence of hearing "Rockin’ Me" by the Steve Miller Band—a song both he and Liam played together.
  • Quote:
    "Me and him used to play that song in a band together and that was on the radio when I was driving there. Weird. It’s bizarre." (Anthony Curry, [19:42])
• Anthony’s resolve is clear: "They did say, you know, you gotta act sorta like Donnie Brasco. You gotta ask him questions." ([18:51])

Inside the Car: Liam’s Cold, Shocking Admissions

[21:27–36:14]

• Liam enters, immediately pats Anthony down for a wire.
  • Quote:
    "Dude, you can’t blame me for doing this, right? I gotta feel you up real quick, all right? No disrespect." (Liam McAtasney, [22:33])
• Without prompting, Liam dives into confessional detail:
  • He describes killing Sarah after counting cash, with chilling indifference to the violence and detail.
  • Quote:
    "I choke her out, drag her. My biggest problem was the dog… I pretty much hung her. Like I picked her up and had her just like dangling off the ground." (Liam McAtasney, [24:00–24:51])
• He brags about his planning and says police interrogations were part of his "plan to make me look not guilty." ([23:22])
• Liam describes disposing of the body, including Preston Taylor as an accomplice.
  • Quote:
    "And the worst part is we threw off the bridge and the body never showed up." (Liam McAtasney, [27:26])
  • "Preston came over, took the body, put it in the bushes... then we take her body out of the bushes... I back backed out exactly like she did and drove off." (Liam McAtasney, [29:52–30:58])
• He details the use of walkie-talkies and the extensive planning, down to camera positions and escape routes.
• Liam laments the payoff was far less than promised and that the stolen cash was "terrible quality."
  • Quote:
    "She only had 10 grand. And this money, I don’t know if it was burnt or something. It’s old money. Terrible quality. I don’t even know if I can put any of it in the bank." (Liam McAtasney, [32:45])
• He chillingly muses on the lack of impact the murder has had on him:
  • Quote:
    "I don’t feel any different then. I don’t think about it... It’s a movie, man." (Liam McAtasney, [33:35])
• Cautiously, he urges Anthony to keep things secret from Preston.
  • Quote:
    "Preston doesn’t know that you know. And if he knows that, you know, I don’t want him… I’m not no rat, bro." (Liam McAtasney, [34:17])

The Aftermath

• Anthony, shaken but successful, drives off.
  • Quote:
    "I didn’t really have to do much work like he wanted to tell me, you know? I think he wanted to get it off his chest." (Anthony Curry, [35:38])
• Detectives are stunned—not only by the confession, but by Liam's shocking lack of remorse.
  • Quote:
    "I have never heard somebody talk about murdering someone like Liam McAtasney did… such disturbing and cold, chilling and horrific details." (Detective Weisbrot, [26:54])
• Police do not immediately arrest Liam or Preston, choosing instead to continue surveillance and build the case further.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• "He used to tell me ideas all the time about, you know, films I should make and all that stuff. And he, like, told me about this idea he had to like, kill this girl."
  — Anthony Curry, [03:07]
• "You can’t hide the truth on a wire."
  — Chris Decker, Assistant Prosecutor, [09:21]
• "Dude, you can’t blame me for doing this, right? I gotta feel you up real quick, all right? No disrespect."
  — Liam McAtasney, [22:33]
• "I choke her out, drag her. My biggest problem was the dog. And her dog laid there and watched as I killed her."
  — Liam McAtasney, [24:00]
• "It’s weird. It’s a movie, man."
  — Liam McAtasney, [33:35]
• "I have never heard someone provide such disturbing and cold, chilling and horrific details that he had provided as to what he did to Sarah Stern."
  — Detective Weisbrot, [26:54]

Important Segment Timestamps

• [01:17] — Anthony Curry contacts police
• [03:07] — Curry recounts Liam’s "movie" idea
• [09:21] — Police propose undercover operation
• [10:21] — Phone call between Anthony and Liam
• [17:01] — The sting: Anthony prepares to meet Liam
• [22:33] — Liam’s pat-down and confession begins
• [24:00–25:22] — Liam’s graphic description of the murder
• [27:26] — Liam reveals Preston’s involvement
• [35:38] — Anthony reflects after the meeting
• [36:59] — Police surveil Liam and Preston, set sights on Preston

Flow & Utility

In the course of just one evening and one high-stakes, wiretapped conversation, police move from dead ends to explosive, detailed confessions about a murder shrouded in secrecy and manipulation. The episode incorporates firsthand perspectives—especially from Curry, whose fear and moral struggle are palpable—and lets listeners hear the cold, movie-like mindset of a remorseless killer.

"Bridge of Lies: The Sting" is a tense, illuminating exposé on undercover police work, the power of listening to a friend’s conscience, and the chilling banality of evil when obsession with money—and performance—turns deadly.

To be continued: Next episode will focus on turning up the pressure on Preston Taylor and closing the net around the conspirators.