Introducing "Bridge of Lies"

Summary

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Cold Blooded: Mystery in Alaska

Special Episode: Introducing "Bridge of Lies"

Host: Juju Chang (ABC News, 20/20)
Date: March 10, 2026

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Episode Overview

This special crossover episode serves as an introduction to the new true crime podcast "Bridge of Lies," hosted by Juju Chang. Rather than focusing on Alaska, as the “Cold Blooded” series usually does, this episode dives into the mysterious 2016 disappearance of Sarah Stern, a 19-year-old aspiring artist from Neptune City, New Jersey. When Sarah’s car is discovered abandoned on a local bridge, authorities face a host of uncertainties: Did she run away, take her own life, or was something more sinister at play?

The episode lays out the initial confusion and emotional stakes of the case, introducing key figures, and capturing the raw reactions of friends, family, and law enforcement as they confront an absence that doesn’t add up. As hints of betrayal and conflicting stories emerge, listeners are drawn into a haunting whodunit set against the backdrop of a small coastal community.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Introduction to "Bridge of Lies" ([00:00])

• Juju Chang shares her background in true crime and sets the mood for the series.

• Introduces the central mystery: Sarah Stern’s car found abandoned on a bridge, sparking multiple theories about her disappearance.

• Emphasizes the emotional complexity, false leads, and eventual shocking betrayal at the story’s core.

  "It makes you question: who can you trust?" — Juju Chang [00:33]

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2. Discovery of the Abandoned Car ([01:56]–[04:26])

• 911 call reporting an abandoned car on the Belmar Bridge overheard.

• Police describe finding an empty, unlocked car with keys inside and personal artifacts, but no clues to Sarah’s whereabouts.

• The bridge location and night conditions (rushing river, darkness) set a mysterious, ominous atmosphere.

  "It's just an empty old car left on a bridge in the middle of the night." — Juju Chang [03:48]

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3. Initial Investigation at the Stern Home ([04:26]–[08:33])

• Police visit the home registered to the car, discovering it belongs to Sarah’s grandmother, Lillian Stern.

• Officers search the house, encountering Sarah’s dog, “Buddy,” but find no notes or evidence pointing to where Sarah might have gone.

• House is described as cluttered, filled with memorabilia and family history, furthering the sense of intimacy and loss.

  "Didn't find any suicide notes either." — Officer, [08:02]

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4. Efforts to Contact Family ([08:40]–[11:46])

• Sarah’s father, Michael Stern, is reached while on vacation in Florida.

• He describes the confusion and panic upon learning of the abandoned car and his frantic efforts to gather information while traveling home.

• Their recent text exchange is recalled, highlighting a sense of normalcy and affection. Michael shares sending photos from Disney World, a shared passion.

  "Sent her a couple pictures of the castle ... there was a rainbow over the Magic Kingdom. I sent her a picture of that too, and she just said it was great." — Michael Stern [10:38]

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5. Neptune City: A Portrait of a Community ([14:27]–[17:25])

• The show introduces Neptune City’s character: a small, tight-knit, working-class Jersey Shore town, not defined by “MTV” stereotypes but by community and generational ties.

• Sarah’s deep roots are emphasized, with her family’s bookstore and her mother’s involvement in the school.

• Local reporter and Sarah’s friends describe her as beloved, quirky, and artistic.

  "This young woman becomes everyone's daughter. She was missing. Nobody knew where she was." — Jessica Easthope, reporter [16:35]

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6. Who Was Sarah Stern? ([17:25]–[21:00])

• Friends and family share anecdotes and memories, painting Sarah as creative, funny, and kind.

• She was devoted to art, embraced online communities, and known for her “reckless optimist” outlook.

• The pain of losing her mother to cancer and Sarah’s resilient personality are described.

  “Sometimes, when you’re with her, you just forget about everything around you... whatever crazy story she’s telling, and you’re just joking." — Belinda Souza, friend [19:26] “She tried to put ['reckless optimist'] on her cap during graduation…” — Michael Stern [20:22]

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7. Police Interview Sarah’s Friends ([24:23]–[30:16])

• Police canvass the neighborhood overnight, seeking clues from those closest to Sarah.
• Visit to Carly Draper’s family provides background on Sarah’s emotional history and recent behavior; Sarah had dropped off a bin of her late mother’s belongings earlier that day, a possible clue.
• Officers then seek out Liam McAtasney, a childhood friend from Sarah's tight-knit “squad.”

8. Interview With Liam McAtasney ([27:29]–[29:58])

• Liam is woken up by police, seems disoriented and claims he last saw Sarah that day.

• Offers new theories: says Sarah was “trying to get away,” possibly to Canada, and had been “depressed lately.”

• For the first time, mentions possible tension with Sarah’s father.

• Police encourage him to reach out to friends, reinforcing urgency.

  “She’s been real depressed lately. Her dad is crazy.”—Liam McAtasney [29:14]

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9. Complicating Theories and Emotional Undercurrents ([29:58]–[31:03])

• Sum up the situation: No concrete evidence of suicide, abduction, or voluntary disappearance. Sarah’s mental state and relationships are now major points of inquiry.

• The mystery deepens—uncertainty, ambiguity, and hints of upcoming betrayal.

  "She's not getting along with her father. There's all kinds of emotional issues with her ... we got depression, we got all kinds of stuff dealing with here, and we got a car on top of a bridge." — Officer, [30:16]

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10. Closing: The Search Intensifies ([30:35]–[31:09])

• By dawn, the search expands with divers and boats on the river.

• Police plan to scrutinize Sarah’s inner circle, as the sense of possible betrayal grows.

  “How did Sarah simply vanish into the night?” — Juju Chang [31:09]

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Juju Chang: "It makes you question: who can you trust?" [00:33]
• Officer (surveying the house): "Didn't find any suicide notes either." [08:02]
• Michael Stern (on texting Sarah): "She just said it was great." [10:38]
• Jessica Easthope: "This young woman becomes everyone's daughter. She was missing." [16:35]
• Belinda Souza (friend): "Sometimes... you just forget about everything around you... whatever funny, crazy story she's telling..." [19:26]
• Liam McAtasney: "She's been real depressed lately. Her dad is crazy." [29:14]
• Officer: "We got depression, we got all kinds of stuff dealing with here, and we got a car on top of a bridge." [30:16]
• Juju Chang: "How did Sarah simply vanish into the night?" [31:09]

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• [00:00] — Juju Chang introduces "Bridge of Lies"
• [01:56] — 911 call and discovery of Sarah Stern’s abandoned car
• [04:26] — Police search Stern family home
• [08:40] — Michael Stern learns of the car, recounts last conversations
• [14:27] — Introduction to Neptune City and the Stern family’s community ties
• [17:25] — Friends and family remember Sarah
• [24:23] — Police interview Carly Draper’s family, then seek out Liam McAtasney
• [27:29] — Police question Liam, introducing new theories
• [29:58] — Officers try to synthesize what they’ve learned
• [31:03] — The search for Sarah ramps up and focus shifts to her inner circle

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Final Thoughts

The episode establishes a haunting, uncertain atmosphere surrounding Sarah Stern’s disappearance. The strongest throughlines are the close-knit nature of the town, the conflicting narratives, and the subtle emergence of suspicion—suggesting that beneath Neptune City's calm exterior may lie betrayal and tragedy. The listener is left with a sense of urgency, sorrow, and the tantalizing promise of untangling deeper secrets in the episodes to come.

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To continue following the investigation, subscribe and listen to "Bridge of Lies" on your favorite podcast platform.

Transcript

[A]

Hi, I'm Juju Chang. You may know me as the co anchor of Nightline or from my true crime reporting on 2020. Complex layered stories like the Murdoch family murders. And I'm gonna get you the case of Debbie Dorian. And now I get to host a new true crime podcast from 2020 and ABC audio called Bridge of Lies. It's a heart pounding thriller about the mysterious disappearance of Sarah Stern, a 19 year old from New Jersey who had dreams an artist. The night she disappeared, the only clue authorities discovered was her car abandoned on a bridge overnight. Her friends and loved ones offered different theories. Maybe she jumped or fled to Canada. But the more police were digging, conflicting statements moved investigators to consider the possibility of foul play. But what motive would there be to harm Sarah? The detectives start to piece together a shocking betrayal. It makes you question who can you trust? Finally, a daring sting operation reveals a heartbreaking betrayal. You actually have to hear it to believe it. In Bridge of Lies, we'll be sharing every twist and turn of this entire story over the next six weeks. Keep listening now to hear the first episode right here. And if you like it, you you can get the rest of the series by following Bridge of Lies on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music or wherever you're listening now. This episode is brought to you by Progressive Insurance. You chose to hit play on this podcast today. Smart choice. Make another smart choice with Auto Quote Explorer to compare rates from multiple car insurance companies all at once. Try [e-mail], progressive Casualty Insurance Company and affiliates. Not available in all states or situations. Prices vary based on how you buy.

[B]

91 1. Where's the emergency?

[A]

In the middle of a cold December night by the Jersey Shore, a driver spots something that gives him a strange feeling.

[B]

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

[A]

So what kind of car is it?

[B]

Kind of looks like an old beat up light tan colored like sedan.

[A]

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

[B]

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

[A]

Okay.

[B]

Unless they were sleeping, I couldn't see them their head being up. Nobody looked.

[A]

All right.

[B]

Okay.

[A]

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 20 20, I'm Juju Chang, and this is Bridge of lies. Episode 1 the Abandoned Car.

[B]

Metoon City Place. Hello? Hello? Neptune City police?

[A]

Hello? Police run the plates and figure out that the abandoned Oldsmobile is 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.

[B]

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

[A]

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.

[B]

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

[A]

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

[B]

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

[A]

The front door is Unlocked and they head inside.

[B]

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

[A]

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

[B]

Hello? It's the police department. Hello? Anybody home? Announce yourself please. Hello? I guess the grandmother's not here.

[A]

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

[B]

Somebody put the dog in a cage. Hello, police department. Hello Buddy. Good doggie.

[A]

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.

[B]

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

[A]

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.

[B]

Didn't find any suicide notes either.

[A]

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. Treat for the doggie. A treat for the good doggie. Besides Buddy, the house is empty.

[B]

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

[A]

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

[B]

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

[A]

Neptune's gonna have to figure out what the mindset of this kid is. So while these officers were going through the Sterns 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.

[C]

And phone rang around 3 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.

[A]

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.

[C]

And I asked him, I said, find out if anything's going on with the car, whether it was an accident, 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. I didn't know. And he called back a few minutes later and said, yeah, they found the car up on the bridge in Belmar.

[A]

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

[C]

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

[A]

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.

[C]

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.

[A]

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

[C]

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.

[A]

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

[C]

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

[A]

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?

[D]

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[A]

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. Right here by Light won't cut loose

[C]

like a deuce Another runner in the

[A]

night 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.

[F]

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.

[A]

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

[F]

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.

[A]

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 on a bridge and its 19 year old driver was nowhere to be found.

[F]

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.

[A]

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.

[G]

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.

[A]

As Sarah got older, she built a community online too. Like so many teenagers in the 2000 and tens, 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 loved 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.

[G]

Hey, Sarah.

[B]

Hi, Sarah.

[G]

When did you appear?

[A]

Hey, how did eating go?

[B]

What did you eat?

[A]

Oh, Jesus. I had pork chops and yogurt. And yogurt. What? Why not together as a 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.

[F]

Sometimes, like when you're with her, you

[A]

just forget about everything around you and it's just. It's you and her and whatever funny,

[F]

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

[A]

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.

[C]

She did a nice snowman holding an ice cream cone.

[A]

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.

[C]

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.

[A]

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.

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[A]

What happens when the person you love the most turns out not to be who you think they are? Everything he told me was a lie. I was betrayed. From the number one true crime podcast Betrayal. He's been living a secret double life. My marriage ended with a 911 call. The tape is blood curdling. Betrayal, secrets and lies. So many people are living with their own betrayal. Sunday nights at 10, 9 Central on ABC and stream on Disney plus and Hulu. 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.

[B]

Is Liam home? Liam's Is liam home?

[A]

Liam McAtasney is the friend officers are looking for. His mom, Megan, is at the door. She's in pajamas and 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 Matasneys also own.

[B]

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

[G]

Yes, Sarah's a very good friend.

[B]

Can you call Liam, if you don't mind.

[A]

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.

[F]

Okay.

[A]

She brought over today

[F]

a bin.

[A]

Can I bring my mother's stuff to your house?

[B]

So she brought a bin of stuff of her mother's to your house?

[A]

Taped over. And it's in my kitchen. I was out.

[F]

I said, yes, I'll put it in the cubby.

[A]

This seems to catch the officer's 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.

[B]

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

[A]

The officer turns back to Robin 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.

[B]

Is she depressed? Is she.

[A]

I think she's depressed. Is she

[B]

not suicidal anyway, do you think?

[A]

I don't know.

[B]

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

[A]

The officers get in the car and move on to their next stop. Liam McAtasney's house, counting from 3,558.

[B]

I'll be out at 11. Holly. It's related to this call.

[A]

Around 4am Police knock on Liam's door.

[B]

Liam, you. Liam, you got a second? Can I come in and talk to you real quick? Yeah, no problem.

[C]

Officer.

[B]

Is Sarah here by chance?

[C]

No.

[A]

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

[B]

When was the last time you talked to her?

[C]

I was with her today.

[B]

What time? I have a phone call to work. So it was earlier today?

[C]

Yeah.

[A]

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 blonde hair. That's messy. On police body camera footage, it seems like he's just woken up.

[B]

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

[A]

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.

[B]

You went to work at what time? 4:30. Okay, so you haven't talked to her since 4:30? You have a cell phone you can reach out to her on?

[C]

I actually haven't been able to find my cell phone.

[A]

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

[B]

Keep looking for your cell phone, man, because we're trying to find Sarah. What was her mindset last time you talked to her?

[A]

I just know she's been trying to get away. Been telling me she's going to Canada. This is the first time officers are hearing that Sarah may have run away.

[B]

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

[C]

Her dad is crazy.

[A]

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.

[B]

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

[C]

as soon as I wake up.

[B]

And yeah, we spoke. You hear anything called the Neptune City or Neptune Township Police Department, let us know. Thank you.

[A]

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.

[B]

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

[A]

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

[F]

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

[A]

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

[G]

And I remember walking in my, 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.

[A]

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

[B]

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.

[A]

How did Sarah simply vanish into the night? If you or someone you know are experiencing suicidal thoughts, substance use or any other men mental health crisis, please call or text the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. You'll reach a trained crisis counselor for free 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. You can also go to 988lifeline.org Bridge of Lies is a production of ABC Audio and 2020 hosted by me, Juju Chang. Produced by Commission, 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 Eben Viola. Special thanks to Katie Dandas, Janice Johnston. Joseph Diaz and Michelle Margulis. Josh Cohan is our director of podcast programming. Eamon McNiff is our executive producer.

[E]

Hi, I'm Brian Buckmire, host of the Webby nominated podcast Bad Rap, the Case against Diddy from 2020 and ABC Audio. It's an honor to be recognized by the Webby Awards, a celebration of the best of the Internet. There are some amazing shows that have been nominated in all categories and through the People's Voice voting, you can be part of the outcome. Check out the nominees and make your voice heard today. Visit abcaudio.com webbies Road to the NBA

[A]

Finals is happening now on ESPN and ABC. It's make or break now. Best on best now. Watch him sit with his chest now Greatness is up for grabs and the world is watching. Just wait on the home of the NBA Finals.

[B]

All the work, all the sacrifice.

[A]

The NBA Playoffs presented by Gould begins Saturday on ESPN and abc.