Introducing 'Bridge of Lies' -- A New 20/20 True Crime Series

Summary

20/20 – "Introducing 'Bridge of Lies': A New 20/20 True Crime Series"

Date: March 4, 2026
Host: ABC News

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Episode Overview

This special episode introduces "Bridge of Lies," a new true crime series from 20/20. The podcast dives into the mysterious disappearance of 19-year-old Sarah Stern, whose abandoned car is found on a bridge in a quiet Jersey Shore town. The episode teases the high-stakes investigation, emotional interviews with family and friends, and an undercover sting operation that unravels the truth behind what happened on that fateful night.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

Discovery of the Abandoned Car (00:01–00:13)

• The scene opens with a 911 call reporting an abandoned car on a bridge.
• The urgency of the moment is highlighted:
  • 911 Operator: "Was there anybody inside the vehicle? I looked, no." [00:10]

Initial Uncertainty and Search (00:13–00:27)

• The disappearance launches multiple theories—possible missing person, suicide, or something else.
  • Friend/Family Member: "Is it a missing person? Is it a suicide? At this point, nobody knows." [00:18]
  • 911 Operator: "I don't know if we got a jumper or what could have pulled up there and just jumped off the bridge." [00:23]
• The powerful setting: the fast-moving Shark River, suggesting the difficulty of search and rescue efforts.

Search Efforts and Community Response (00:27–00:57)

• Authorities enact a large-scale search using boats, helicopters and even swimmers, underscoring the seriousness of the case.
  • 911 Operator: "We have people swimming in the Shark river in this cold weather. We have boats, we have helicopters." [00:38]
• Details about Sarah’s last known actions add intrigue:
  • She visits her safety deposit box and brings boxes to a neighbor—actions potentially indicating premeditation or preparation for something significant.

Personal Portrait of Sarah Stern (00:57–01:09)

• Sarah is described as a promising artist and a loving daughter.
• Emotional reaction from her parent:
  • 911 Operator / Police Officer: "Sarah's my only child. It's a hard feeling that we couldn't find her. A million things go through your mind." [01:09]

Theories, Suspicions, and Hope (01:09–01:37)

• Friends and police consider various possibilities, including mental health struggles and theories of Sarah intentionally disappearing.
  • 911 Operator / Police Officer: "In the past, she has had a tendency to have self-destructive suicidal behavior." [01:22]
  • Friend/Family Member: "I thought she had staged it herself and just went to Canada without telling anyone. Like you just hope that you know she's alive and well." [01:29]
• The uncertainty weighs heavily on her community and loved ones.

Twist: Undercover Sting and Ultimate Betrayal (01:37–01:47)

• The narrative pivots sharply as police deploy a sting operation.
• An audio recording captures striking dialogue:
  • 911 Operator / Police Officer (Undercover): "Bro, this is like a movie. The cops haven't questioned me. I know you. I know you're not a rat. But we gotta play it safe." [01:47]

Allusions to a Sinister Plot (01:47–02:00)

• The case reveals elements of old friendships, hidden cash, and a criminal plot that mirrors a movie scenario, playing out in the real world.
• The invitation to listeners:
  • Juju Chang / Narrator: "An undercover sting operation reveals the ultimate betrayal. And it's all caught on tape." [01:37]

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• "Is it a missing person? Is it a suicide? At this point, nobody knows." — Friend/Family Member [00:18]
• "Sarah's my only child. It's a hard feeling that we couldn't find her. A million things go through your mind." — 911 Operator / Police Officer [01:09]
• "Bro, this is like a movie. The cops haven't questioned me. I know you. I know you're not a rat. But we gotta play it safe." — Undercover Police Officer [01:47]
• "Old friendships, buried cash. And a sinister plot that was once pitched as a movie plays out in real life." — Narrator [01:54]

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Key Timestamps

• 00:01–00:13: 911 call and discovery of Sarah's abandoned car
• 00:27–00:48: Details on the intensive search mission and Sarah’s last actions
• 01:06–01:17: Personal stories from family; portrait of Sarah
• 01:22–01:37: Theories about Sarah’s disappearance
• 01:47–01:54: Undercover sting and major break in the case
• 01:54–end: Teaser of the dramatic real-life crime and invitation to continue listening

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Closing

The episode provides an enticing preview of "Bridge of Lies," blending emotional storytelling, investigative suspense, and dramatic real-life developments. The series promises to unravel the complex, haunting case of Sarah Stern, with exclusive audio, interviews, and never-before-heard moments, premiering March 10th wherever podcasts are available.

Transcript

[911 Operator / Police Officer]

911, where is the emergency?

[Narrator / Reporter]

It's the middle of the night in a small town on the Jersey shore. Someone reports an abandoned car on a bridge.

[911 Operator / Police Officer]

Was there anybody inside the vehicle? I looked, no.

[Narrator / Reporter]

And the driver is nowhere to be found. It's the beginning of a mystery.

[Friend / Family Member]

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

[911 Operator / Police Officer]

I don't know if we got a jumper or what could have pulled up there and just jumped off the bridge.

[Narrator / Reporter]

Underneath the bridge, the current of the Shark river runs fast out to the ocean. A search gets underway for the missing driver, 19 year old Sarah Stern.

[911 Operator / Police Officer]

The resources that are out there right now looking for her, the amount of manpower. We have people swimming in the Shark river in this cold weather. We have boats, we have helicopters.

[Narrator / Reporter]

The day Sarah went missing, she went to her safety deposit box at the bank and brought boxes to a neighbor for safekeeping.

[Friend / Family Member]

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 / Reporter]

Sarah was a promising artist, a loving daughter.

[911 Operator / Police Officer]

Sarah's my only child. It's a hard feeling that we couldn't find her. A million things go through your mind.

[Narrator / Reporter]

Her close friends share with police their varying theories on her disappearance.

[911 Operator / Police Officer]

In the past, she has had a tendency to have self destructive suicidal behavior.

[Friend / Family Member]

I thought she had staged it herself and just went to Canada without telling anyone. Like you just hope that you know she's alive and well.

[Narrator / Reporter]

What really happened on that bridge? An undercover sting operation reveals the ultimate betrayal. And it's all caught on tape.

[911 Operator / Police Officer]

Bro, this is like a movie. The cops haven't questioned me. I know you. I know you're not a rat. But we gotta play it safe.

[Narrator / Reporter]

Old friendships, buried cash. And a sinister plot that was once pitched as a movie plays out in real life. I'm juju Chang from 2020 and ABC Audio. Listen to Bridge of Lies coming March 10th. Wherever you listen to podcasts,