Toms River Murder Case: Woman Pleads Guilty to Dismemberment Charges
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December 10, 2024Toms River Murder Case: Woman Pleads Guilty to Dismemberment Charges
Elizabeth Mascarelli, 29, of Seaside Heights,
Toms River Murder Case: Woman Pleads Guilty to Dismemberment Charges
According to the Ocean County Prosecutors Office, on December 9, 2024, , Elizabeth Mascarelli, 29, of Seaside Heights, pled guilty to Aggravated Manslaughter in connection with the death of Kerry Rollason, 56, of Toms River, on or about July 3, 2024, in Toms River.
At the time of her sentencing on January 31, 2025, the State will be seeking a term of 25 years New Jersey State Prison, subject to the terms of the No Early Release Act.On July 5, 2024, Detectives from the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crime Unit, Manchester Township Police Department, and United States Marshals Service, located Maxwell Johnston, 35, of Manchester, at a residence on Ravenwood Drive in Toms River;
Johnston was wanted in connection with the murder of Gabriella Caroleo, 25, of Seaside Heights, which occurred in Manchester on June 27, 2024. Upon their arrival at the residence, the Marshals successfully called out three of the occupants, later identified as Danielle Bolstad, 42, of Barnegat, Jared Krysiak, 34, of Brick, and Jared Palumbo, 36, of Manchester. Johnston and Mascarelli remained in the residence, however, and it was learned that Johnston was armed.Negotiators attempted to have Johnston surrender himself peacefully; those attempts were met with negative results.
After several hours, Mascarelli exited the residence and was transported to Community Medical Center in Toms River to be treated for injuries sustained throughout the standoff. The residence was subsequently cleared using a drone, and Johnston was located in a bedroom – deceased - with an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound to his head. Pursuant to a court-authorized search warrant, Detectives discovered a defaced .22 caliber handgun and a 9mm handgun in the residence.
Further investigation revealed that Mascarelli had allowed Johnston to stay at the residence on Ravenwood Drive with her for four days - despite her knowledge of the murder of Ms. Caroleo and Johnston’s alleged involvement in it.
As such, Mascarelli was charged with Harboring a Fugitive from Justice, and served with the charge on a complaint at the hospital. Mascarelli was later transported to the Ocean County Jail, where she has remained lodged pending resolution of her charges.In furtherance of the continuing investigation into the death of Ms. Caroleo, Detectives discovered evidence that a murder may have been committed at the Ravenwood Drive residence on or about July 3, 2024. To that end, law enforcement came into possession of information indicating that evidence of that murder might be found at a property in Jackson Township.
On July 12, 2024, Detectives from the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crime Unit, Manchester Township Police Department Detective Bureau, New Jersey State Police K-9 Unit New, Jersey State Police Forensic Science Unit, and Ocean County Sheriff’s Office Crime Scene Investigation Unit, executed a court-authorized search warrant on the subject property on Toms River Road in Jackson Township. As a result, Detectives discovered numerous body parts in black bags along with additional evidence connected to the murder, including a hatchet.On July 13, 2024, the Ocean County Medical Examiner’s Office conducted a post mortem examination of the body parts, and was able to identify the victim as the owner of the Ravenwood Drive residence, Mr. Rollason. The Medical Examiner concluded that the cause of Mr. Rollason’s death was multiple gunshot wounds in addition to blunt force trauma, and the manner of death to be homicide.
Continuing investigation revealed that Mascarelli conspired with Johnston, and was, in fact, the individual responsible for Mr. Rollason’s death. It was also determined that Mascarelli, Bolstad and Krysiak, assisted Johnston with dismembering Mr. Rollason’s body, and that Mascarelli, Bolstad, Krysiak and Palumbo assisted Johnston in disposing of the body in Jackson Township.“Although Mascarelli was originally facing more significant charges with greater sentencing exposure, this plea agreement has been entered into in the interests of justice and with the approval of the victim’s next of kin,” Prosecutor Billhimer stated.
