TOMS RIVER – Four Ocean County residents have been charged in connection to two murders, officials said.
Elizabeth Mascarelli, 29, of Seaside Heights, was charged with 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, all in connection with a series of events that occurred in Toms River and Jackson Township on or about July 3.
Additionally, Danielle Bolstad, 42, of Barnegat, Jared Krysiak, 34, of Brick, and Jarred Palumbo, 36, of Manchester, were each charged with Hindering Apprehension and Desecration of Human Remains in connection with the same series of events.
On July 5, authorities as well as the United States Marshals Service responded to a home on Ravenwood Drive in Toms River to locate 35-year-old Maxwell Johnston of Manchester. Johnston was wanted in connection with the murder of Gabriella Caroleo, 25, of Seaside Heights, which occurred in Manchester on June 27.
At the home, the Marshals successfully called out three of the occupants, later identified as Bolstad, Krysiak, and Palumbo. Johnston and Mascarelli remained in the home, however, and officers learned that Johnston was armed.
Attempts to get Johnston to surrender himself peacefully failed, officials said. After several hours, Mascarelli exited the home and was brought to Community Medical Center in Toms River to be treated for injuries sustained throughout the standoff.
The home was ultimately cleared using a drone and Johnston was found in a bedroom, deceased, with an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound to his head.
According to officials, Mascarelli allowed Johnston to stay at the home with her for four days – despite her knowledge of Caroleo’s murder and Johnston’s alleged involvement in it.
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 is presently lodged pending a detention hearing.
While investigating the death of Caroleo, detectives found evidence that a murder may have been committed at the Ravenwood Drive home on or about July 3. Additionally, authorities came into possession of information indicating that evidence of that murder might be found at a property in Jackson Township.
On July 12, detectives searched the property on Toms River Road in Jackson Township and discovered numerous body parts in black bags along with additional evidence connected to the murder.
On the same day, detectives searched the Ravenwood Drive home and found defaced .22 caliber handgun as well as additional evidence that the murder had been committed at that location.
A post mortem examination of the body parts led authorities to identify the victim as the owner of the Ravenwood Drive home – Kerry Rollason, 56, of Toms River. The cause of Rollason’s death was multiple gunshot wounds in addition to blunt force trauma, and the manner of death to be homicide, officials said.
It was later determined that Johnston was responsible for the murder of Rollason at the Ravenwood Drive home, and the firearm found at the home belonged to Mascarelli.
Additionally, Mascarelli, Bolstad, and Krysiak assisted Johnston with dismembering Rollason’s body, and Mascarelli, Bolstad, Krysiak, and Palumbo assisted Johnston in disposing of the body in Jackson Township, officials said.
On July 13, Palumbo was taken into custody without incident. He was processed and served with the charges via summons pending an upcoming first appearance in Ocean County Superior Court.
On July 14, Bolstad was taken into custody without incident and transported to the Ocean County Jail, where she is presently lodged pending a detention hearing.
On July 15, Elizabeth Mascarelli was served with the charges referenced above on a complaint at the Ocean County Jail.
Jared Krysiak has not yet been taken into custody, and is considered a fugitive from justice. A warrant for his arrest has been issued and his name has been entered in the National Crime Information Center database.
Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer urged anyone who has any information related to this investigation to contact Detective Denis Mitchell of the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office at 732-929-2027 ext. 2476, or Detective James Carey of the Toms River Township Police Department at 732-349-0150.
“The crimes committed against Mr. Rollason are unsettling and disturbing. I am thankful for the law enforcement professionals that worked diligently to uncover these depraved and soulless crimes,” Prosecutor Billhimer stated.
Prosecutor Billhimer expressed his sincere gratitude to the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crime Unit, Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office High Tech Crime Unit, Manchester Police, Manchester Detective Bureau, Toms River Police, Toms River Detective Bureau, Toms River Police Emergency Services Unit, Jackson Police, 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 Police, 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 very thorough and extensive investigation.
The charges referenced are merely accusations and the public are reminded that all defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
