OCEAN COUNTY – A Toms River woman has been charged with murder after the body of a former high school janitor was found unresponsive at a Pine Lake Park home late last month, authorities said.
According to Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer and Manchester Township Police Chief Lisa Parker, 56-year-old Mary Carbone of Toms River Township is accused of killing 55-year-old Frank Stochel. In addition to murder charges, Carbone also faces weapons counts.
It was back on February 24 when officers from the Manchester Township Police Department responded to a home on 6th Avenue in the Pine Lake Park section of town. When they arrived, they found Stochel’s lifeless body on the floor inside the house. A full investigation began and on February 25, the Ocean County Medical Examiner performed an autopsy which revealed the manner of death to be a homicide.
According to authorities, Carbone and Stochel resided in the same house. The probe revealed that several household items were used by Carbone to carry out the murder. A tape dispenser and a shower rod were recovered from the scene.
Police said the injuries sustained by Stochel were consistent with the implementation of these items. There was enough evidence collected at the scene of the crime for Carbone to be charged.
Carbone was arrested on March 4 and was taken to the Ocean County Jail where she remains lodged pending a detention hearing. There is no word of a motive.
In a press release issued on Wednesday night, Prosecutor Billhimer and Chief Parker thanked the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crime Unit, Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office High Tech Crimes Unit, Manchester Township Police Department, Manchester Township Police Department Detective Bureau, Ocean County Sheriff’s Office Crime Scene Investigation Unit, Toms River Police Department, Santa Rosa County Sherriff’s Office Crime Scene Unit, Westchester County Police Department, and Oneida County Sherriff’s Department, for their collective and cooperative assistance in this investigation.
“This truly was a team effort in terms of the investigation. These detectives combed through a ton of forensic evidence to ultimately determine that Ms Carbone did in fact cause Mr. Stochel’s death,” Prosecutor Billhimer stated.
“We were able to determine very early on in this investigation that there was no immediate danger to the public, from there – these detectives went to work doing what they do best. For that, every law enforcement officer involved this investigation has my profound gratitude,” Prosecutor Billhimer concluded.
The investigation continues. The victim was formerly a school janitor at the Manchester Township High School.
