Chapter 1: What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
This is Deborah Roberts. You're about to hear the first episode of the latest true crime original podcast from 2020 and ABC Audio, a shocking seven-part series 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 reveals a shocking betrayal. You're going to have to hear it to believe.
We'll be sharing the whole chilling story on the 2020 podcast feed over the next seven weeks, starting right now with episode one. But if you are anxious to get started, you can find early episodes 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.
911.
In the middle of a cold December night by the Jersey Shore, a driver spots something that gives him a strange feeling.
The caller thinks it looks like a car someone in their 70s or 80s would drive. And was there anybody inside the vehicle? I looked, no. Okay. Unless they were sleeping. I couldn't see them by their head being up. Nobody looked like they were in it. All right.
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Chapter 2: What happened when Sarah Stern's car was found abandoned?
Okay?
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, 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.
Chapter 3: What theories did friends have about Sarah's disappearance?
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 2020, I'm Juju Chang, and this is Bridge of Lies.
Episode 1, The Abandoned Car.
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 Stearns' 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.
We're getting no answer with the house. I might, uh... Go inside and make sure everything's kosher here. I want to make sure we don't have a jumper.
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.
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Chapter 4: What did the police discover at Sarah's grandmother's house?
When did you appear? Hey! How did eating go? What did you eat? Oh, Jesus. I had pork chops. Duh. And yogurt. And yogurt?
What?
Not together as the 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.
She did a nice snowman holding an ice cream cone.
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.
She tried to put that on her cap during the graduation ceremony. And one of the teachers or advisors seen 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.
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