Bridge of Lies — Episode 5: The Accomplice

Podcast: Bridge of Lies
Host: ABC News (Juju Chang)
Date: April 7, 2026
Episode Theme:
An in-depth, gripping exploration into the unraveling of the Sarah Stern murder case, focusing on the confession and role of Preston Taylor, the close friend turned accomplice, and the law enforcement breakthroughs that brought him and Liam McAtasney to justice.

Main Theme & Purpose

This episode zeroes in on the pivotal moment investigators break the case: the confession of Preston Taylor, Sarah Stern’s former friend, and his revelations about how a close-knit circle of friends became entwined in a cold-blooded plot for money. With new details from confessions, a recreation of the crime for detectives, and the emotional responses of families, the episode captures the shattering of trust and innocence in a small Jersey shore town.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Preston Taylor’s Arrest and Initial Interrogation

Timestamps: 00:31–06:14

• Police surveillance targets Preston Taylor, Sarah Stern’s friend and Liam McAtasney's roommate, culminating in his traffic stop and detainment.
• Preston is Mirandized and, rather than asking for a lawyer, confesses quickly when confronted with detectives' knowledge of the murder.
  • Detective Brian Weisbrot: “I don't know if I've ever seen anyone confess that quickly. And then he just goes on for 52 pages or something in a transcript of describing everything that they did.” (05:06)

2. Preston’s Detailed Confession

Timestamps: 06:14–16:33

• Motive: Money
  • Preston reveals the murder was plotted for Sarah's supposed cash savings — anywhere from $50,000 to $150,000, but only $10,000 was found.
    • Preston Taylor: “He wanted to try his hands on as much of it as possible.” (06:47)
    • Preston Taylor: “Money.” (06:24)
• The Murder Plot
  • Liam allegedly premeditated the killing, first discussing Sarah’s money, then planning “to kill her and steal it.”
  • Preston describes Liam strangling Sarah and seeking help hiding the body.
• Night of the Murder
  • Preston finds Sarah’s body, hides it in bushes, and later assists in moving it to her car.
  • Using walkie talkies instead of phones, the pair drives the body to the bridge for disposal in the river.
    • Preston Taylor: “He just said, 'I'm coming up on the bridge.' And I said, 'Okay, I'm coming up behind you'...” (12:08)
  • They return home, count the ill-gotten cash, and realize their crime netted far less than hoped.
    • Preston Taylor: “It was a lot of really old, beat up, torn up money…” (13:37)
  • Preston confesses he spent his cut “on some really big sum of weed.” (13:49)
• Preston's Mindset
  • He shows almost no emotion or remorse, focused only on the fallout for himself.
    • Detective Brian Weisbrot: “How do you feel about everything that happened to Sarah?”
    • Preston Taylor: “I don't really know.” (16:00)

3. Reenactment and Evidence Recovery

Timestamps: 20:46–27:52

• Investigators take Preston to Sarah’s house to recreate the events.
  • He demonstrates dragging the body, hiding it in bushes, and later transferring it to the car with Liam.
• Preston leads police to where they buried the safes: one with money at Sandy Hook Beach, another with Sarah’s belongings in Shark River Park—which took over an hour to locate.
  • Detective Nick Catalona: “It’s not something that, you know, you could just easily just come across so you could tell that they meant for nobody to ever find this again.” (24:39)
• During these searches, police find supporting evidence:
  • Walkie-talkies in Preston’s car, as described in the confession
  • The recovered safe with cash decayed similarly to bills from Sarah’s safety deposit box
  • The key to the safe in Liam’s car keys

4. Arrests and Family Reactions

Timestamps: 25:44–33:59

• Liam is arrested; unlike Preston, he immediately invokes his right to a lawyer and refuses to speak.
  • Liam (via Detective Brian Weisbrot): “And I'd rather not speak to anyone until I talk to him.” (26:28)
• Police search Liam and Preston’s shared home, find keys to the safety deposit box, but little else.
• The emotional toll on the families is profound. Liam’s mother, Megan McAtasney, expresses disbelief at the charges and swears her son is incapable of murder.
  • Megan McAtasney: “I do not believe Liam was capable of killing Sarah Stern, who he loved and adored. I did not believe Liam is capable of killing anybody.” (31:35)
• Michael Stern, Sarah’s father, recalls his shock on learning not just of Sarah’s fate, but of the betrayal by her close friends.
  • Michael Stern: “Just can't imagine turning your back on somebody and having them choke you and just leave you there. … This was the ultimate in betrayal of a friendship.” (33:59)

5. Legal Consequences and Betrayal

Timestamps: 34:42–36:10

• Preston cuts a deal: pleads guilty to robbery and other charges, avoids life without parole, and agrees to testify against Liam.
• Liam pleads not guilty, setting the stage for a painful public trial.
• The emotional devastation lingers, especially for Sarah’s family.
  • Michael Stern: “Sociopath. Obviously. Evil. Definitely. Cruel. Heartless. I don't think there's enough words to describe him.” (35:53)
• Despite Preston’s detailed confession and physical evidence, Sarah’s body is still missing, and the defense hints at an eyewitness who may complicate the prosecution’s case.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “I don't know if I've ever seen anyone confess that quickly.”
  — Detective Brian Weisbrot, on Preston’s rapid confession (05:06)
• “Money.”
  — Preston Taylor, asked for the motive (06:24)
• “He was like, dude, I did it.”
  — Preston Taylor, repeating Liam’s words the night of the murder (07:48)
• “No emotion. No tears, no remorse, nothing.”
  — Detective Weisbrot, on Preston’s demeanor (16:01)
• “We got in my car and drove down, turned around, went back to our house.”
  — Preston Taylor, on how matter-of-factly the night went after disposing of the body (13:05)
• “This was the ultimate in betrayal of a friendship. So I look at life differently. I look at people differently now.”
  — Michael Stern (33:59)
• “Sociopath. Obviously. Evil. Definitely. Cruel. Heartless. I don't think there's enough words to describe him.”
  — Michael Stern, about Liam (35:53)

Important Segments & Timestamps

| Timestamp | Segment Description | |-----------|-------------------------------------------------------------------| | 00:31–02:56 | Police surveillance and arrest of Preston Taylor | | 03:18–06:14 | Preston’s interrogation and initial confession | | 06:14–10:21 | Detailed account of the murder plot and crime’s aftermath | | 12:05–13:32 | Walkie talkie communication and disposal of Sarah’s body | | 20:46–24:32 | Crime scene reenactment and safe recovery | | 25:44–27:52 | Liam’s arrest, evidence found in his car and home | | 29:49–32:44 | Family reactions (Megan McAtasney and Michael Stern) | | 34:42–35:53 | Legal deals, trial preparations, and final reflections |

Episode Tone & Concluding Thoughts

The episode maintains a tense, investigative tone, blending methodical police work with the personal, emotional devastation wrought by betrayal and violence. Law enforcement voices are pragmatic and procedural, while family members’ grief and disbelief are palpable. The story paints an intimate and shocking portrait of friendship twisted into tragedy, underscoring the irrevocable cost of greed and broken trust.

For listeners, “The Accomplice” offers deep insight into the psychology of those involved, the careful, methodical unraveling of a tightly-held secret, and the shattering ripple effect on families and community. It sets up the climactic courtroom battle to come, as the pursuit of justice collides with denial, ambiguity, and the unresolved fate of Sarah Stern’s body.