Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer announced that on January 31, 2025, Elizabeth Mascarelli, 29, of Seaside Heights, was sentenced by the Honorable Guy P. Ryan, P.J.Cr.P., to 25 years New Jersey State Prison relative to her previously entered guilty plea to Aggravated Manslaughter in connection with the death of Kerry Rollason, 56, of Toms River, on or about July 3, 2024, in Toms River. This sentence will be subject to the terms of the No Early Release Act, meaning that Mascarelli will be required to serve at least 85 percent of her prison sentence before she may be considered for parole eligibility. Mascarelli pled guilty to the charge before Judge Ryan on December 9, 2024.
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.
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.
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.
On October 24, 2024, 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. 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.
On December 16, 2024, Krysiak pled guilty to Desecration of Human Remains before Judge Ryan. He is scheduled to be sentenced on February 7, 2025.
On January 13, 2025, Bolstad pled guilty to Desecration of Human Remains, and Palumbo pled guilty to Hindering Apprehension – both before Judge Ryan. They are scheduled to be sentenced on March 14, 2025.
Prosecutor Billhimer acknowledges the diligent efforts of Assistant Prosecutor Julie Peterson who is handling the case on behalf of the State, and commends the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crime Unit, Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office High Tech Crime Unit, Manchester Township Police Department, Manchester Township Police Department Detective Bureau, Toms River Police Department, Toms River Police Department Detective Bureau, Toms River Police Department Emergency Services Unit, Jackson Township Police Department, Ocean County Regional SWAT Team, Ocean County Sheriff’s Office Crime Scene Investigation Unit, Ocean County Sheriff’s Office K-9 Unit, United States Marshals Service, Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office, Monmouth County Sheriff’s Office, Monmouth County Emergency Response Team, Howell Township Police Department, New Jersey State Police, New Jersey State Police K-9 Unit, New Jersey State Police Forensic Science Unit, Essex County Prosecutor’s Office, Newark Police Department, and Ocean County Medical Examiner’s Office, for their combined and collective assistance in connection with this investigation leading to Mascarelli’s guilty plea, and now her lengthy state prison sentence.