Liam McAtasney and Preston Taylor were charged Thursday
UPDATE: River search for Neptune City teen's body set to resume
NEPTUNE CITY -- The man charged with strangling a 19-year-old Neptune City woman and another man accused of helping to dispose of her body took part in the search to find her in the weeks after she disappeared, News 12 New Jersey reported.
Liam McAtasney and Preston Taylor, both 19, were friends of Sarah Stern, who disappeared Dec. 2 after her car, which was operational and with the keys inside, was found abandoned near a bridge over the Shark River in Belmar.
Ex-classmates charged in murder of Sarah Stern
Her disappearance touched off a search of the river by the Coast Guard and other authorities, as well as searches by members of the public. On Dec. 10, about 80 volunteers searched the area for the missing woman.
Her body has not been found.
Stern and the two men were classmates at Neptune High School, graduating in 2015. All three lived in Neptune City.
According to authorities, McAtasney went to Stern's home Dec. 2, planning to rob her, and ultimately strangled her at the home.
McAtsaney then called Taylor and asked for help concealing evidence of the crime and removing Stern's body, authorities said. Using Stern's car, they drove to the bridge and tossed her body into the river, according to the Monmouth County Prosecutor's Office.
McAtasney was charged with murder, felony murder, conspiracy, hindering apprehension and disturbing human remains.
Taylor was charged with conspiracy, hindering apprehension and disturbing human remains.
Both were in custody at the Monmouth County Jail Thursday.
Paul Milo may be reached at pmilo@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter@PaulMilo2. Find NJ.com on Facebook.