Defense witness says he saw Sarah Stern alive after she was reported missing

A witness testified Wednesday that he saw Sarah Stern alive after she was supposedly murdered.

News 12 Staff

Feb 20, 2019, 10:11 PM

Updated 1,906 days ago

Share:

Defense witness says he saw Sarah Stern alive after she was reported missing
A witness testified Wednesday that he saw Sarah Stern alive after she was supposedly murdered.
Craig Hetzel, Sr., a contractor from Neptune, testified for the defense that he saw Stern alive one day after she was allegedly strangled by childhood friend Liam McAtasney.
Stern was reported missing Dec. 2, 2016, sparking a large search effort. Hetzel testified that he saw Stern on Dec. 3.
“When I pulled up to the door, there was a picture of a girl. I said to my son, I said, ‘That’s who we saw. That’s who I saw that day,’” Hetzel testified, adding that there was “no doubt” in his mind that the girl he saw was Stern.
Earlier in the day, the prosecution called their final two witnesses to testify – both detectives from the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office.
One detective testified about a timer on a phone McAtasney is accused of using to time how long it took to allegedly strangle Stern. That time was mentioned by McAtasney during a hidden video that the jury saw earlier in the trial where McAtasney appeared to describe how Stern died.
McAtasney is accused of killing Stern so that he could steal thousands of dollars she recently received. Prosecutors say that McAtasney and accomplice Preston Taylor then threw Stern’s body off the Route 35 Bridge into the Shark River below. Stern’s body has never been found.
Taylor pleaded guilty to his role in the crime and testified for the prosecution.
The trial is expected to resume Thursday. Defense witnesses expected to speak include McAtasney’s mother and a private investigator hired by the defense team.


More from News 12
1:43
Proposed 'Jake's Law' would authorize Town of Yorktown to install safety cameras in road work zones

Proposed 'Jake's Law' would authorize Town of Yorktown to install safety cameras in road work zones

2:01
Rainy morning on Mother’s Day in the Hudson Valley, tapers by evening

Rainy morning on Mother’s Day in the Hudson Valley, tapers by evening

0:46
NAMIWalks Westchester raises money for mental health programs

NAMIWalks Westchester raises money for mental health programs

2:05
Mei's Dance Studio in Ardsley keeps traditional Chinese dance alive

Mei's Dance Studio in Ardsley keeps traditional Chinese dance alive

0:46
Westchester SPCA unveils first-of-its-kind mobile adoption vehicle

Westchester SPCA unveils first-of-its-kind mobile adoption vehicle

0:33
Police: Pedestrian fatally struck by car in Wallkill

Police: Pedestrian fatally struck by car in Wallkill

0:34
Police: 1 person killed following accident that left vehicle overturned in Mongomery

Police: 1 person killed following accident that left vehicle overturned in Mongomery

1:23
Light show: Severe solar storm produces spectacular auroras across the tri-state

Light show: Severe solar storm produces spectacular auroras across the tri-state

2:03
Why do Black women have the highest death rate for most cancers? A massive study in underway

Why do Black women have the highest death rate for most cancers? A massive study in underway

1:39
Large police presence descends at busy New Rochelle intersection

Large police presence descends at busy New Rochelle intersection

2:28
Mount Vernon officials: 2 teens injured in separate stabbings

Mount Vernon officials: 2 teens injured in separate stabbings

0:32
Authorities: Dutchess County drug dealer caught for 2nd time selling narcotics

Authorities: Dutchess County drug dealer caught for 2nd time selling narcotics

0:29
Flock of ducks rescued from rooftop in Yonkers

Flock of ducks rescued from rooftop in Yonkers

0:34
Metro-North upgrades at Croton-on-Hudson complete

Metro-North upgrades at Croton-on-Hudson complete

0:24
7 Kohl's in Hudson Valley to open Babies 'R' Us locations. See list of stores

7 Kohl's in Hudson Valley to open Babies 'R' Us locations. See list of stores

0:53
Beloved Yonkers park reopens with a new look

Beloved Yonkers park reopens with a new look

1:44
Fares on Cross-Hudson ferries and buses to be slashed for Orange and Rockland residents to as low as $1 per ride

Fares on Cross-Hudson ferries and buses to be slashed for Orange and Rockland residents to as low as $1 per ride

0:30
Police ID victim killed in Yellow Freight property crash as Tennessee man

Police ID victim killed in Yellow Freight property crash as Tennessee man

1:43
Lawsuit filed against FedEx, its former driver for Dutchess County rape of underage girl inside FedEx truck

Lawsuit filed against FedEx, its former driver for Dutchess County rape of underage girl inside FedEx truck

0:31
Marine from Westchester seriously injured in Orange County crash

Marine from Westchester seriously injured in Orange County crash