By: Najla Alexander
Authorities in Ocean County announced that on July 8, Mary Carbone, 60, of Toms River, pled guilty to Aggravated Manslaughter before the Honorable Guy P. Ryan, P.J.Cr.P., in connection with the death of Frank Stochel, 55, of Toms River, in Manchester Township on February 24, 2020.
Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer said that at her sentencing on September 13, 2024, the State will seek a term of 10 years in New Jersey State Prison, subject to the terms of the No Early Release Act.
Officials stated that on February 24, 2020, Officers from the Manchester Township Police Department responded to a residence on 6th Avenue in the Pine Lake Park section of Manchester for a report of an unresponsive male.
Upon arrival, officials say, officers found the lifeless body of Mr. Stochel lying on the floor of the residence.
According to officials, on February 25, 2020, the Ocean County Medical Examiner performed a post-mortem examination of Mr. Stochel’s body and ruled the manner of death to be a homicide.
Officials said an investigation by the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crime Unit, Manchester Township Police Detective Bureau, and Ocean County Sheriff’s Office Crime Scene Investigation Unit revealed that Carbone and Stochel both resided at the 6th Avenue residence in Manchester.
The investigation further revealed that several household items were utilized in the commission of the homicide: specifically, a wooden board, a heavy-duty tape dispenser, and a shower curtain rod were recovered from the scene, officials say.
Authorities say the injuries sustained by Mr. Stochel were consistent with the implementation of these items. Upon continuing investigation, the findings ultimately identified Carbone as the individual responsible for Mr. Stochel’s death.
Carbone was arrested and charged on March 4, 2021, and has been lodged in the Ocean County Jail since that date, officials stated.
“Although Mary Carbone was originally facing a murder charge in connection with Mr. Stochel’s death, legitimate proof issues arose during the course of our investigation that we simply could not ignore and which we were ethically bound to take into account in evaluating this very difficult case,” Prosecutor Billhimer stated.
“We believe this to be a just and reasonable resolution after careful consideration of all the facts and circumstances. Additionally, Mr. Stochel’s family was consulted in connection with this resolution and approved of same,” Prosecutor Billhimer concluded.