Introducing "Bridge of Lies"

Summary

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Podcast Summary: "Bridge of Lies" Episode 1 - The Abandoned Car

Podcast: Vanished: What Happened to Vanessa (Introducing "Bridge of Lies")
Production: ABC News, ABC Audio, 20/20
Host: Juju Chang
Date: March 10, 2026
Episode Theme:
This gripping premiere of "Bridge of Lies" explores the mysterious disappearance of 19-year-old Sarah Stern from Neptune City, New Jersey. Beginning with an abandoned car found on a deserted bridge, the episode weaves together firsthand accounts, interviews, and body-camera footage, unraveling both the initial investigation and the emotional ripples through Sarah's tight-knit community.

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Main Themes and Purpose

• Recounts the true crime case of missing teen Sarah Stern
• Follows the emotional journey of her family and friends as they search for answers
• Highlights the complexities of missing persons investigations and the unsettling potential for betrayal among those closest to the victim

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Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Discovery of the Abandoned Car (02:01–04:30)

• A driver reports a suspicious, deserted car on the Belmar Bridge in Neptune City, New Jersey.
• Details of the car: Silver 1994 Oldsmobile 88, unlocked, keys in the center console, no ID, money, or clothing inside.
• Only personal effects: Disney memorabilia and artwork in the trunk.
• Initial speculation includes possible mechanical trouble, but nothing seems out of place for an accident or breakdown.
• The bridge spans the fast-flowing Shark River, hinting at possible suicide.

Quote:
“An investigation that will make people question who they can really, really trust and what those closest to them are capable of.”
— Juju Chang (04:16)

2. Police Search the Stern House (04:30–08:30)

• The Oldsmobile is linked to Lillian Stern (Sarah’s grandmother), but police seek Sarah, its usual driver.
• Police, using bodycam footage, enter the quiet, cluttered Stern home and find it empty except for Buddy (Sarah’s dog).
• No suicide note or indication of where Sarah might be.

Quote:
“Wow, this house is jammed packed. Talk about a fire hazard.”
— Neptune City Police Officer (07:30)

• Sarah’s room reflects her personality: decorated with signs, keepsakes, and a Canadian flag.

3. Michael Stern Responds From Out of State (09:09–11:49)

• Sarah’s father, Michael, is in Florida and is notified by police about her abandoned car.
• He frantically tries to reach Sarah, but texts return green—indicating her phone is off.
• Last communication was pleasant, sharing Disney photos and memories.

Quotes:
“Her text messages on the iPhones are coming back green, so no answer on her phone.”
— Michael Stern (10:05)

“A million things go through your mind.”
— Michael Stern (11:11)

4. Portrait of Neptune City & Sarah’s Community (13:58–16:47)

• Neptune City is described as close-knit, working/middle class, small, and safe.
• The community is shocked; Sarah becomes “everyone’s daughter” overnight.
• Sarah grew up entrenched in local life: her parents owned a bookstore, her mom led the PTO, and her close friend Carly Draper describes their shared childhood.

Quote:
“It's a small, tight knit community of people whose families have lived there for generations.”
— Jessica Easthope, journalist (15:05)

• Sarah’s online presence mirrors her personality: expressive, funny, and artistic. She was active on Tumblr and YouTube, using art as solace after her mother's death.

Quote:
“One of her favorite sayings during high school was ‘reckless optimist.’”
— Michael Stern (19:43)

5. Early Investigation: The Search Expands (22:31–29:03)

• Police canvas the neighborhood, tracking down people who saw or spoke to Sarah last.
• Robin Draper reports Sarah dropped off a sealed bin of her late mother's possessions at her house the day she vanished.
• Officers speak with Liam McAtasney, Sarah’s childhood friend, who claims she was depressed and talked about going to Canada.

Key Exchanges:
“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?”
— Neptune City Police Officer (23:17)

“She brought a bin of stuff of her mother's to your house?”
— Neptune City Police Officer (24:12)

• Questions arise about Sarah’s mental health and relationship with her father.

• Liam tells police: “I just know she's been trying to get away and tell me she's going to Canada. She's been real depressed lately. Her dad is crazy.” (27:19–27:45)

• Officers express confusion between possible explanations: suicide, running away, or something more troubling.

Quote:
“We've got a car on top of a bridge. ...Is it a missing person? Is it a suicide? At this point, nobody knows.”
— Neptune City Police Officer & Jessica Easthope (28:44–29:03)

6. Building Tension and Community Response (29:03–29:37)

• By sunrise, authorities expand their search to the frigid waters below the bridge with boats and divers.
• Friends like Carly Draper recount the agony and disbelief, oscillating between hope and dread.

Quote:
“We're never going to find anything because she's in Canada.”
— Carly Draper (29:10)

• Police vow to scrutinize Sarah’s “inner circle” further.

Quote:
“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.”
— Neptune City Police Officer (29:31)

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Notable Moments & Memorable Quotes

• Initial Intrigue: The vivid description of the abandoned car and cold, dark bridge sets a suspenseful tone (02:01–04:16).
• Intimate Glimpses: The emotional strain on Michael Stern as he races north; the sights and sounds inside the cluttered Stern house.
• Community Shock: Jessica Easthope’s insight into how, in small towns, missing persons become everyone’s child (15:56).
• Sarah's Personality: Her “reckless optimist” philosophy and creativity made her a vibrant member of Neptune City.
• Seeds of Suspicion: Early clues—like the bin of her mother’s belongings and hints of friction in her friendships—foreshadow deeper betrayals to come.

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Important Timestamps

• 02:01 – Discovery of Sarah’s abandoned car on Belmar Bridge
• 04:30 – Police enter and search the Stern family home
• 09:09 – Michael Stern learns of his daughter’s disappearance
• 13:58 – Introduction to Neptune City community and Sarah’s background
• 16:47 – Sarah’s friendships, online life, and family history
• 22:31 – Investigation shifts to friends and neighbors, focus on Liam McAtasney
• 27:19 – Liam suggests Sarah talked about fleeing to Canada
• 28:44 – Officers summarize open case status
• 29:03 – Search for Sarah intensifies with divers; friends reflect on the ordeal

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Tone and Language

• Narration Style: Juju Chang provides clear, empathetic narration, blending objective reporting with sensitivity to victims and families.
• Police Dialogue: Authentic, sometimes procedural, but peppered with candid moments and curiosity.
• Family & Community Voice: Emotional, candid, and deeply personal, showing Sarah’s impact and the shattering effect of her disappearance.
• Mood: A tense, immersive mixture of suspense, sorrow, and uncertainty.

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Conclusion

Episode One of "Bridge of Lies" draws listeners into the chilling mystery of Sarah Stern’s disappearance, painting a textured portrait of her world and the uncertainty that follows her vanishing. Through careful narrative building, emotional interviews, and on-the-ground police tape, the stage is set for a story rife with secrets, suspicion, and the search for truth in a seemingly safe community.

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To follow the rest of the series, listeners are encouraged to subscribe to "Bridge of Lies" on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or their preferred platform.

Transcript

[John Quinones]

This is John Quinones. Thank you for joining us. Over the course of this podcast, I hope you found the story as moving and compelling as I did. The team at 2020 and ABC audio is hard at work on more true crime podcasts I think you'll like as much as this one. So today I'm here to tell you about the latest new series from 2020 and ABC Audio, hosted by my colleague Juju Chang. It's 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 revealed a shocking betrayal you'll have to hear to believe. Over the next seven weeks, Juju Chang will explore the whole chilling story on the new podcast Bridge of Lies. Keep listening now to hear the first episode and if you like it, 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. Now here's episode one of Bridge of Lies.

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[Juju Chang]

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[Neptune City Police Officer]

Book [e-mail]911 where is the emergency?

[Juju Chang]

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

[Neptune City Police Officer]

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

[Juju Chang]

So what kind of car is it?

[Neptune City Police Officer]

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

[Juju Chang]

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

[Neptune City Police Officer]

And was there anybody inside the vehicle? I looked now. Okay. Unless they were sleeping, I couldn't see them by their head being up. Nobody. Sorry.

[Michael Stern]

Okay.

[Juju Chang]

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, 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.

[Neptune City Police Officer]

Neptune City police.

[Michael Stern]

Hello?

[Neptune City Police Officer]

Hello? Neptune City police. Hello?

[Juju Chang]

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 style. Sarah and her father both grew up in this house where police are now knocking, but no one answers.

[Neptune City Police Officer]

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.

[Juju Chang]

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.

[Neptune City Police Officer]

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

[Juju Chang]

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

[Neptune City Police Officer]

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

[Juju Chang]

The front door is unlocked and they head inside.

[Neptune City Police Officer]

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

[Juju Chang]

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

[Neptune City Police Officer]

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

[Juju Chang]

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.

[Neptune City Police Officer]

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

[Juju Chang]

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.

[Neptune City Police Officer]

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

[Juju Chang]

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.

[Neptune City Police Officer]

Didn't find any suicide notes either.

[Juju Chang]

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.

[Neptune City Police Officer]

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

[Juju Chang]

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

[Neptune City Police Officer]

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

[Juju Chang]

Neptune's gonna have to figure out what the mindset of this kid is. So while these officers were going through the Stearns 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 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. And they hung up.

[Juju Chang]

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, 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.

[Juju Chang]

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.

[Juju Chang]

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.

[Juju Chang]

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. You know, I was thinking something happened. So a million things go through your mind.

[Juju Chang]

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, you can drive pretty quick. But talking constantly to the police, they, you know, they would call, I would call them and getting calls from family and still looking for Sarah.

[Juju Chang]

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?

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[Juju Chang]

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. 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.

[Juju Chang]

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.

[Juju Chang]

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.

[Juju Chang]

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.

[Carly Draper]

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.

[Juju Chang]

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.

[Carly Draper]

Hey, Sarah.

[John Quinones]

Hi, Sarah.

[Carly Draper]

When did you appear?

[Juju Chang]

Hey, how did eating go?

[Neptune City Police Officer]

What did you eat?

[Juju Chang]

Oh, Jesus. I had pork chops and yogurt. And yogurt.

[John Quinones]

What?

[Juju Chang]

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. Sometimes, like when you're with her, you just forget about everything around you, and it's just. It's you and her and whatever funny, crazy story she's telling and you're just joking. Sarah was also known throughout Neptune City for her artwork. 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.

[Juju Chang]

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 saying that 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.

[Juju Chang]

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. Ever wonder where Tropicana got its name? The tropics. And every time you enjoy a glass, you're not just drinking juice. You're taking a trip, stepping into sunshine, and embarking on a flavorful journey into the tropics, where ripe fruit is crafted into wildly delicious juice. And the best part, no passport required. Tropicana. Give life some juice.

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[Juju Chang]

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.

[Neptune City Police Officer]

Is Liam home? Is liam home?

[Juju Chang]

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 McAtasneys also own.

[Neptune City Police Officer]

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?

[Carly Draper]

Yes, Sarah's a very good friend.

[Neptune City Police Officer]

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

[Juju Chang]

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. Robyn 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.

[Michael Stern]

Okay.

[Juju Chang]

She brought over today

[Jessica Easthope]

a bin.

[Juju Chang]

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

[Neptune City Police Officer]

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

[Juju Chang]

Taped over, 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. Robin says it's a big bin taped shut and she doesn't know exactly what's in it.

[John Quinones]

And

[Juju Chang]

I tried texting her and nothing. The two are close. Robyn 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.

[Neptune City Police Officer]

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

[Juju Chang]

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.

[Neptune City Police Officer]

Is she depressed? Is she.

[Juju Chang]

I think she's depressed.

[Neptune City Police Officer]

Is she not suicidal anyway, do you think?

[Juju Chang]

I don't know.

[Neptune City Police Officer]

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

[Juju Chang]

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

[Neptune City Police Officer]

Counting from 3,000, 558. I'll be out at 11. Holly. It's related to this call.

[Juju Chang]

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

[Neptune City Police Officer]

Liam, you. Liam, you got a second? Can I come in and talk to you real quick? Yeah, no problem, Officer. Is Sarah here by chance?

[Michael Stern]

No.

[Juju Chang]

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

[Neptune City Police Officer]

When was the last time you talked to her?

[Michael Stern]

I was with her today.

[Neptune City Police Officer]

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

[Michael Stern]

Yeah.

[Juju Chang]

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.

[Neptune City Police Officer]

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

[Juju Chang]

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.

[Neptune City Police Officer]

You went to work at what time?

[Juju Chang]

4:30.

[Neptune City Police Officer]

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

[Juju Chang]

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

[Neptune City 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 Canada.

[Juju Chang]

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

[Neptune City Police Officer]

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

[Michael Stern]

Her dad is crazy.

[Juju Chang]

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.

[Neptune City 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 talked to her, what her mindset was and all that. All right. Planning on getting a phone as soon

[Jessica Easthope]

as I wake up.

[Choice Hotels Advertiser]

Okay.

[Neptune City Police Officer]

And yeah, we spoke. We spoke. You hear anything called the Neptune City or Neptune Township police swan and let us know. Thank you.

[Juju Chang]

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 Robin draper and Liam McAtasney.

[Neptune City Police Officer]

She's about 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.

[Juju Chang]

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.

[Juju Chang]

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

[Carly Draper]

And I remember walking into 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.

[Juju Chang]

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

[Neptune City 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.

[Juju Chang]

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 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, seven 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 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 Dendoz, Janice Johnston, Joseph Diaz and Michelle Margulis. Josh Cohan is our director of podcast programming. Amos McNiff is our executive producer.

[Progressive Insurance Advertiser]

This episode is brought to you by Progressive Insurance. Do you ever think about switching insurance companies to see if you could save some cash? Progressive makes it easy to see if you could save when you bundle your home and auto policies. Try [e-mail] Progressive Casualty Insurance Company and affiliates. Potential savings will vary. Not available in all states.

[Juju Chang]

The Stanley Cup Final on ABC is

[Neptune City Police Officer]

more than a quest for the Cup. It's 134 years of putting it all

[Juju Chang]

on the line and the heaviest 35 pounds ever lifted.

[Progressive Insurance Advertiser]

It's broken curses and broken hearts, but

[Juju Chang]

for those chasing it, it's everything. The only question is who will take it?

[Neptune City Police Officer]

You just have to watch the Stanley

[Juju Chang]

Cup Final presented by Geico on ABC and the ESPN app.