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 1,893 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
1:57
Authorities: Fire destroys home in Spring Valley

Authorities: Fire destroys home in Spring Valley

1:45
Scattered rain overnight in the Hudson Valley; sunny skies Sunday afternoon

Scattered rain overnight in the Hudson Valley; sunny skies Sunday afternoon

0:43
Musica Y Mole Festival: White Plains High School celebrates Mexican culture

Musica Y Mole Festival: White Plains High School celebrates Mexican culture

0:33
Delta plane lands at JFK due to emergency slide falling off

Delta plane lands at JFK due to emergency slide falling off

2:02
'Gains For Brains' girls lacrosse tournament raises awareness, funds for pediatric brain cancer research

'Gains For Brains' girls lacrosse tournament raises awareness, funds for pediatric brain cancer research

0:31
Police seek public’s help locating missing 89-year-old man

Police seek public’s help locating missing 89-year-old man

Mathew Barzal scores in 2nd OT as Islanders beat Hurricanes 3-2 to avoid series sweep

Mathew Barzal scores in 2nd OT as Islanders beat Hurricanes 3-2 to avoid series sweep

2:28
Doctors are seeing an increase in pickleball-related injuries. Here how to avoid them

Doctors are seeing an increase in pickleball-related injuries. Here how to avoid them

1:23
Westchester commuters, residents weigh in on official congestion pricing rollout date

Westchester commuters, residents weigh in on official congestion pricing rollout date

0:20
City of White Plains to impose new speed limit of 25 mph, effective in May

City of White Plains to impose new speed limit of 25 mph, effective in May

0:41
Farm-to-table distillery brings boozy beverages to Goshen

Farm-to-table distillery brings boozy beverages to Goshen

0:22
Westchester County Center to host free prom attire giveaway this weekend

Westchester County Center to host free prom attire giveaway this weekend

0:35
Westchester Craft Beverage Trail takes residents on tour of 2 dozen distilleries

Westchester Craft Beverage Trail takes residents on tour of 2 dozen distilleries

Special teams carry Rangers to a Game 3 win and a 3-0 series lead on the Capitals

Special teams carry Rangers to a Game 3 win and a 3-0 series lead on the Capitals

1:53
Shop Mother’s Day Gifts – Exclusive Offers Up to 75% OFF!

Shop Mother’s Day Gifts – Exclusive Offers Up to 75% OFF!

0:52
Mother and daughter from Mount Vernon sentenced in pandemic-relief fraud scheme

Mother and daughter from Mount Vernon sentenced in pandemic-relief fraud scheme

0:32
Carmel police: Yorktown shoplifting suspects arrested

Carmel police: Yorktown shoplifting suspects arrested

0:52
'Kindness in a cup.' Sleepy Coffee, Too celebrates grand opening in Sleepy Hollow

'Kindness in a cup.' Sleepy Coffee, Too celebrates grand opening in Sleepy Hollow

1:53
Officials call for no-show Orange County legislator to step down after missing meetings for two years

Officials call for no-show Orange County legislator to step down after missing meetings for two years

0:34
Yonkers police: Man wanted for failing to appear in court for car break-in charges

Yonkers police: Man wanted for failing to appear in court for car break-in charges