NJ - Sarah Stern, 19, Neptune City, 2 Dec 2016 *Arrests* #2

[turanna25]

I hope so! It looked like Coast Cities & Stumpy's have surveillance too.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

That's great! I wonder if it's working. Hopefully there's something on one or both of those cameras!

 

[Veronica27]

I'm in a Facebook group called 'Neptune High School (NHS) Dearly Departed' and just saw that a young man who graduated with Sarah has recently passed away. It doesn't say how, but it looks like they were friends. So sad [emoji29]


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[njdna]

Really sad.

I'm in a Facebook group called 'Neptune High School (NHS) Dearly Departed' and just saw that a young man who graduated with Sarah has recently passed away. It doesn't say how, but it looks like they were friends. So sad [emoji29]


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Hraefn]

I did some research on sentencing in New Jersey for the charges LM and PT are facing. This is by no means perfect, but merely my understanding after reading the statutes cited. A lot of factors could play in and this is in no way legal advice of any sort.

Liam McAtasney
Charge:
(1) C11-3A MURDER - CRIMINAL HOMICIDE
Sentence: 30 years to life; not eligible for parole until after 30 years
http://law.justia.com/codes/new-jersey/2013/title-2c/section-2c-11-3

(2) C11-3A1 MURDER - PURPOSELY
Sentence: 30 years to life; not eligible for parole until after 30 years
http://law.justia.com/codes/new-jersey/2013/title-2c/section-2c-11-3

(3) C15-1A1 ROBBERY-BI
Sentence: 10 to 20 years
http://law.justia.com/codes/new-jersey/2009/title-2c/section-2c-15/2c-15-1
http://www.njlaws.com/2c-43-6imprisonment.html

(4) C29-9 TAMPERING W/EVIDENCE
Sentence: Up to 18 months
http://law.justia.com/codes/new-jersey/2013/title-2c/section-2c-28-6/
http://law.justia.com/codes/new-jersey/2013/title-2c/section-2c-29-9/
http://www.njlaws.com/2c-43-6imprisonment.html


Preston Taylor ***
Charge:
(1) C29-3A1 HINDER PROS CONCEALS
Sentence: 3 to 5 years
http://law.justia.com/codes/new-jersey/2009/title-2c/2c-29/2c-29-3/
http://www.njlaws.com/2c-43-6imprisonment.html

(2) C29-9 CONTEMPT
Sentence: Up to 18 months
http://law.justia.com/codes/new-jersey/2009/title-2c/2c-29/2c-29-9/
http://www.njlaws.com/2c-43-6imprisonment.html

(3) C5-2A1 CONSPIRACY
Sentence: It depends what the conspiracy charge relates to;
If conspiracy to commit murder: 30 years to life
If conspiracy to commit robbery: probably 10 to 20 years
http://law.justia.com/codes/new-jersey/2013/title-2c/section-2c-5-2
http://www.marainlaw.com/page.php?here=conspiracy

Concurrent versus consecutive sentences – I am not sure how it works in New Jersey, but sentences can be ordered to run concurrently or consecutively. Often times it is the judge’s discretion. When sentences run concurrently, defendants serve all the sentences at the same time. When sentences run consecutively, defendants have to finish serving the sentence for one offense before they start serving the sentence for any other offense.

***ETA - the statutes and inmate information indicate differently than what MSM has reported. PT may be facing three 2nd degree charges rather than 1st degree charges as my research indicated. For 2nd degree, PT would face 5 to 10 years for each charge. Thanks for the info Veronica27!

 

[Hraefn]

Question for SBHack- if found guilty of all counts, how much time do you think LM will be in prison for?

It would take a thorough review of case law with the particular judge to have an educated guess on this, but my gut says life. JMO.

 

[Hraefn]

Thanks. One more area you could probably shed some light on, LM aquited and PT still charged?
1 if LM's confession is deemed inadmissible (likelihood?) then, can't PT simply testify against LM as eye witness?
2 so is it safe to say that PT's confession/testimony seals the deal in this case for both?

From my reading of the statute, if LM were acquitted PT could still be charged.

d.Overt act. No person may be convicted of conspiracy to commit a crime other than a crime of the first or second degree ...unless an overt act in pursuance of such conspiracy is proved to have been done by him or by a person with whom he conspired.

http://law.justia.com/codes/new-jersey/2013/title-2c/section-2c-5-2
Here the murder charge is for first degree and the robbery charge is for first degree, so even if the "overt act" (LM's actions) are not proven, PT could still be charged with conspiring to commit them. It can get very nuanced.

I really can't say whether the confession will be admissible. SO many factors can play into that. The lawyers will certainly argue on this one IMO. It's ultimately up to the jury to decide what their minds require to meet the standard of proof of beyond reasonable doubt.

 

[Veronica27]

Thank you so much, SBHack!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Veronica27]

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news...ed-of-killing-another/?utm_term=.5502b8f130ab

From this link: "Taylor was charged with second-degree desecration of human remains, second-degree conspiracy (to desecrate human remains) and second-degree hindering apprehension."


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Hraefn]

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news...ed-of-killing-another/?utm_term=.5502b8f130ab

From this link: "Taylor was charged with second-degree desecration of human remains, second-degree conspiracy (to desecrate human remains) and second-degree hindering apprehension."


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Thank you! I wonder why they didn't charge with first degree on the conspiracy...the research I did lead me to believe the degree would be for the same degree as the crime committed. Hmm...let me edit the sentences with that info.

ETA:

Ordinary Terms; Mandatory Terms. a. Except as otherwise provided, a person who has been convicted of a crime may be sentenced to imprisonment, as follows:

(1) In the case of a crime of the first degree, for a specific term of years which shall be fixed by the court and shall be between 10 years and 20 years;

(2) In the case of a crime of the second degree, for a specific term of years which shall be fixed by the court and shall be between five years and 10 years;

(3) In the case of a crime of the third degree, for a specific term of years which shall be fixed by the court and shall be between three years and five years;

(4) In the case of a crime of the fourth degree, for a specific term which shall be fixed by the court and shall not exceed 18 months.

http://www.njlaws.com/2c-43-6imprisonment.html

So if PT's charges are all 2nd degree, he would be facing the 5 to 10 years three times.

 

[lisette]

It's a shame someone at the bank didn't watch her to her car (where I believe Liam was waiting) and the situation didn't merit some suspicion or concern. One of my friends, when getting about $10k in cash, had a bank employee walk her out to see if she was under any sort of duress, leaving. I thought that was really cool. And in this situation, the employee would have at least been able to tell the police later, when she went missing, that she had seen this guy in her car. Then, from the outset, they would have known something was amiss.

IIRC, Sarah got the money from a safety deposit box. When you have one, nobody but you (and whoever you want to tell) knows what is in it. The people at the bank wouldn't have known what she got out of it, so if she didn't ask for an escort to the car, they would not have known to offer.

 

[Veronica27]

IIRC, Sarah got the money from a safety deposit box. When you have one, nobody but you (and whoever you want to tell) knows what is in it. The people at the bank wouldn't have known what she got out of it, so if she didn't ask for an escort to the car, they would not have known to offer.

I know LE is saying that Sarah accessed her safety deposit box at the bank. But as far as I know, they aren't specifically saying that she took cash from it. The safety deposit box wasn't mentioned when she went missing. However, a bank withdrawal was mentioned. Maybe she removed valuables from the box or took the whole thing and made a cash withdrawal from her savings/checking account as well?
Also, the police report states that a safe from the house contained $7000.
I'm going to post some links later when I'm on my computer.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Veronica27]

I know LE is saying that Sarah accessed her safety deposit box at the bank. But as far as I know, they aren't specifically saying that she took cash from it. The safety deposit box wasn't mentioned when she went missing. However, a bank withdrawal was mentioned. Maybe she removed valuables from the box or took the whole thing and made a cash withdrawal from her savings/checking account as well?
Also, the police report states that a safe from the house contained $7000.
I'm going to post some links later when I'm on my computer.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

http://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/loca...n-Taylor-Prosecutor-Car-Bridge-412577033.html

From link:
"A Crime Stoppers tip led police to McAtasney as their suspect, alleging he somehow knew about the cash withdrawal and came to Stern's home to rob her."


https://www.scribd.com/document/340107945/McAtasney-Taylor-affidavits#download

From affidavit: "McAtasney further admitted that he had planned to kill the victim for approximately 6 months prior to December 2, 2016 so he could take money that the victim had recently come into possession of. McAtasney explained that on December 2, 2016, he traveled with the victim to her bank where she accessed her safety deposit box. They returned to her residence where he eventually strangled the victim, and removed a safe from her home and got approximately $7000 from the same."


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[spaz1959]

Liam has admitted nothing.

 

[Veronica27]

Liam has admitted nothing.

Not to LE but to his friend (AC) who was secretly filming him.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Dolphin8]

Not to LE but to his friend (AC) who was secretly filming him.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

At first that seemed like a slam dunk until the lawyer tried to spin it into the defense by saying the tape sounded scripted. I'm sure it did sound scripted, LM and PT had six months to rehearse exactly what they were going to do and say.

 

[Dolphin8]

Thank you! I wonder why they didn't charge with first degree on the conspiracy...the research I did lead me to believe the degree would be for the same degree as the crime committed. Hmm...let me edit the sentences with that info.

ETA: http://www.njlaws.com/2c-43-6imprisonment.html

So if PT's charges are all 2nd degree, he would be facing the 5 to 10 years three times.

Thank you for researching and posting all these laws. Fascinating to read.

 

[njdna]

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/03/07/nyregion/nj-liam-mcatasney-sarah-stern-missing.html

 

[AzPistonsGirl]

thinking about you today, beautiful...

 

[283]

Father of N.J. Teen Allegedly Killed by Best Friends Speaks
http://people.com/crime/sarah-stern-father-nj-teen-heartbroken-shock/

 

[MzWorld]

This is my first time posting to this site. I am a New Jersey native and have been a Monmouth County resident for close to half of my life. This case has really stayed with me and I have tried to watch it very closely. I stumbled upon the first 76 page thread and this website completely by accident a few days ago while searching the web for information pertaining to this case. My thoughts and prayers go out to any and all who are affected by this tragedy, especially Sarah's family and friends.

With that said I'd like to add some perspective and hopefully clarify some things about the areas where the safes were found and where Sara's house is. Being local to the area I think I could help others who are not with some questions. I am not an expert and I am only speaking from experience.

A lot of people are talking about the neighbors camera footage. Now I don't know exactly what street Sarah's house was on, but I do know the area and a lot of the houses are small beach bungalow's, sometimes with no or very small driveway's. Most likely the car was parked on the street, this is very common in that area. I believe I read that it was not a next door or across the street neighbor that caught the footage, which probably means it was someone a few houses down, where it's likely her car could have been parked. The footage revealed someone (who was thought at first to be Sarah) in a red hooded windbreaker get in to her car. It could have been LM or PT who got in and drove it to the front of Sarah's house, or as close as they could to do what they had to do to get her deceased body in it. It's very possible that the camera caught someone getting in to her car, and maybe her house and what happened there was out of range for it. Just a thought.

Next I'd like to explain the areas where the safes were found:

- Sandy Hook is a national park. It is a very very small peninsula off the "main land". The only entrance to the park is where the peninsula meets the "main land", unless you arrive there by boat. The entrance has a few ticket/information booths where you pay to get in, there are camera's, and when they close the park i believe they put gates up so us regular folk can't get in and out. I also know that if you are on Sandy Hook after hours you need a permit. How those who have a permit get in and out at night I'm not too sure. Sandy Hook being a national park it is also heavily patrolled by NJ State Troopers at all hours, and there is an active Coast guard base on it. Point being, it is highly unlikely the boys drove in to the park to bury anything at night. In my opinion the only way they could have maybe accessed the park at night would have been by foot. I'm curios where exactly the safe was found and if that could have been a possibility.

-Shark River Park on the other hand I'm not very familiar with. I do believe there is one actual gate but many alternative ways you could probably bypass it and access the park. I know it is part of the Monmouth County Parks system and there are specific closing times, but I'm not sure how guarded the area is at night, if they close the gates, or if there are camera's.