By: Najla Alexander
Authorities in Ocean County announced that on December 9, Elizabeth Mascarelli, 29, of Seaside Heights, pled guilty to Aggravated Manslaughter before the Honorable Guy P. Ryan, P.J.Cr.P., in connection with the death of Kerry Rollason, 56, of Toms River, on or about July 3, 2024, in Toms River.
County officials stated that on January 31, 2025, at the time of her sentencing, the State will seek a term of 25 years in New Jersey State Prison, subject to the terms of the No Early Release Act.
Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer said that on July 5, 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, according to Ocean County authorities, it was learned that Johnston was armed.
Negotiators attempted to have Johnston surrender himself peacefully; those attempts were met with negative results, County officials stated. 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.
Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer said 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, County officials said.
As such, officials say, 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, County officials stated that 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 said.
According to Ocean County officials, on July 12, 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, officials said.
Ocean County authorities said that on July 13, 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 was a homicide, County officials stated.
Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer said that on July 15, 2024, Mascarelli was initially served with the charges of Hindering Apprehension, Desecration of Human Remains, being a Certain Person Not to Possess a Weapon, Possession of a Weapon for an Unlawful Purpose, Unlawful Possession of a Weapon, and Possession of a Defaced Weapon, at the Ocean County Jail.
Ocean County officials said that 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, County officials say.
According to Ocean County authorities, on October 24, Mascarelli was 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.
Officials said that on that same date, Bolstad, Krysiak, and Palumbo were likewise indicted by a Grand Jury sitting in Ocean County on charges of Hindering Apprehension and Desecration/Disturbing of Human Remains.
The charges against Bolstad, Krysiak, and Palumbo remain pending.