By: Najla Alexander
Authorities in Ocean County announced that on December 16, Jared Krysiak, 34, of Brick, pled guilty to the Desecration of Human Remains before the Honorable Guy P. Ryan, P.J.Cr.P., in connection with a series of events that occurred in Toms River and Jackson Township on or about July 3, 2024.
At the time of his sentencing on February 7, 2025, the State will be seeking a term of eight years in New Jersey State Prison, officials stated.
According to Ocean County officials, 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, County authorities said that the Marshals successfully called out three of the occupants, later identified as Krysiak, Danielle Bolstad, 42, of Barnegat, and Jared Palumbo, 36, of Manchester. However, Johnston and Elizabeth Mascarelli, 29, of Seaside Heights, remained in the residence, and it was learned that Johnston was armed.
Negotiators attempted to have Johnston surrender himself peacefully; those attempts were met with negative results, County officials said. 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, according to Ocean County officials.
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, officials stated.
County officials said that 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.
According to Ocean County authorities, 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, Kerry Rollason, 56. 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 was a homicide.
Continuing investigation revealed that Mascarelli conspired with Johnston and was, in fact, the individual responsible for Mr. Rollason’s death, Manchester Police said. It was also determined that Mascarelli, Krysiak, and Bolstad assisted Johnston with dismembering Mr. Rollason’s body and that Mascarelli, Krysiak, Bolstad, and Palumbo assisted Johnston in disposing of the body in Jackson Township.
Ocean County officials said that on July 13, 2024, Krysiak was charged with Hindering Apprehension and Desecration of Human Remains. Initially a fugitive from justice, Krysiak was taken into custody on July 16, 2024, in Marlboro by Detectives from the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crime Unit and Toms River Township Police Department.
He was transported to the Ocean County Jail, where he has been lodged since that date.
According to Ocean County authorities, on October 24, 2024, Krysiak, Bolstad, and Palumbo were indicted by a Grand Jury sitting in Ocean County on charges of Hindering Apprehension and Desecration/Disturbing of Human Remains.
On that same date, Mascarelli was likewise indicted by a Grand Jury sitting in Ocean County on charges of Murder and Conspiracy to Commit Murder in connection with the death of Mr. Rollason, along with numerous weapons offenses, Hindering Apprehension, and Desecration/Disturbing of Human Remains, County officials said.
County officials stated that on December 9, 2024, Mascarelli pled guilty to Aggravated Manslaughter before the Honorable Guy P. Ryan, P.J.Cr.P., in connection with the death of Mr. Rollason. She is scheduled to be sentenced on January 31, 2025.
The charges against Bolstad and Palumbo remain pending.