Man Denies Helping Dismember Victim In Toms River Slaying, Says He Just Cleaned Up Blood

TOMS RIVER, NJ — A Brick Township man denies he helped to dismember a Toms River man, but helped clean up the blood afterward in what his attorney described as "a house of terror" in Toms River in early July.

In spite of the pleas of his public defender, Jarek M. Krysiak, 34, was ordered held until trial during his detention hearing Tuesday before Superior Court Judge Dina Vicari in Ocean County Superior Court.

Krysiak has been charged with hindering apprehension and desecration of human remains in connection with the death of Kerry Rollason, 56, of Toms River, who was killed July 3 and his body dismembered before it was discarded in a wooded area of a property in Jackson Township.

Krysiak is one of four people charged in connection with the discarding of Rollason's remains. Also charged are Elizabeth C. Mascarelli, 29, of Seaside Heights; Danielle M. Bolstad, 42, of Barnegat and Jarred Palumbo, 36, of Manchester. All four were at the home on Ravenwood Drive on July 5 when authorities came to arrest Johnston in connection with the fatal shooting of Gabriella Caroleo, 25, of Manchester, and authorities allege all had roles in connection with Rollason.

Johnston had been staying with Mascarelli in her room, according to court documents, and on the day of the standoff the two stayed in the home, while Krysiak, Palumbo and Bolstad left the house when authorities told people to evacuate. Johnston took his own life, ending the standoff. Mascarelli left the house with minor injuries and was arrested that night on a charge of hindering.

It was nearly a week after the standoff when authorities found photos on Mascarelli's phone showing Rollason's dead, partially dismembered body and some of the group near a burn barrel that Rollason's slaying was uncovered, authorities have said.

Palumbo gave authorities a timeline of the events in the killing of Rollason after authorities showed him the photos, authorities said, including saying Krysiak assisted with the dismemberment.

Danny Ljungberg, Krysiak's public defender said Krysiak "adamantly denies involvement with the dismemberment."

"He did help clean up blood, blood and vomit," Ljungberg said, adding the vomit was Krysiak's in reaction to the scene at the home.

"This was essentially a house of terror," Ljungberg said.

Ljungberg said Krysiak's involvement was limited to the clean-up and that he did it because he feared for his life.

"He was trying to keep it together to make sure he wasn't the next victim and no one else there would be a victim," the attorney said.

Rollason was shot in the early hours of July 3, and after the shooting, Johnston ordered Krysiak, Palumbo and Bolstad out of the house. They later returned to the house, at which time Rollason's body was dismembered and put in garbage bags, then taken in Bolstad's car to a property on Toms River Road in Jackson.

Krysiak, Bolstad and Palumbo were charged with hindering apprehension and desecration of human remains July 13, but Krysiak was listed as a fugitive before authorities tracked him down in Marlboro and arrested him July 16.

Ljungberg said Krysiak was not directly threatened in the aftermath of Rollason's slaying, but "having witnessed the aftermath of a shooting and a bludgeoning to the head, he was going to do whatever they told him to make sure he wasn't the next victim."

"This was simply a horror house," Ljungberg said. "To his great relief police came and he was allowed to leave the residence safely."

Assistant Prosecutor Eleni Demestihas argued for Krysiak to be held, saying he had a criminal history that showed an escalation in the seriousness of the crimes he had been convicted of. Krysiak has seven prior indictments and served two prison sentences.

She also said Krysiak said nothing to authorities about the slaying when he came out of the house during the standoff.

Vicari agreed, rejecting Ljungberg's argument.

"There has been a very erratic and dramatic escalation in activities," Vicari said, noting Krysiak's criminal history.

"He had multiple cell phones, he had plenty of opportunity to leave," she said, noting also that Krysiak returned to the house even after he knew Rollason was dead.

"Certainly when you're in a house for that long with these people self-preservation is to get out of there," Vicari said.

"There was plenty of opportunity where the right thing could have been done," she said.

Previous reporting:

• Manchester Fugitive Takes His Life, Ending Standoff In Toms River
• Woman Charged With Harboring Fugitive In Manchester Slaying In Toms River Standoff
• Fugitive In Toms River Standoff Killed, Dismembered Home's Owner: Prosecutor
• Ocean County Man Sought In Dismemberment Of Toms River Man, Prosecutor Says
• Fugitive In Toms River Dismemberment Case Arrested