Woman Indicted On Murder Charge In Toms River Dismemberment Case

TOMS RIVER, NJ — Four people have been indicted in connection with the killing and dismemberment of a Toms River man that was uncovered following a standoff at the man's home in July, authorities said Thursday.

Elizabeth C. Mascarelli, 29, of Seaside Heights; Danielle M. Bolstad, 42, of Barnegat; Jared M. Krysiak, 34, of Brick Township, and Jarred Palumbo, 36, of Manchester, were indicted Thursday in the death of Kerry M. Rollason, 56, of Toms River, Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer said.

The indictment against Mascarelli included new charges of murder and conspiracy to commit murder, Billhimer said, the result of information that has turned up during the investigation. She also was indicted on three counts each of possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose and unlawful possession of a weapon, related to .22 caliber semi-automatic handgun, a 9mm handgun, and a hatchet; being a certain person not to possess a weapon, possession of a defaced weapon, hindering apprehension, and desecration of human remains, the prosecutor's office said.

"Although our investigation originally led us to believe that (Maxwell) Johnston murdered Mr. Rollason at the Ravenwood Drive residence, our continuing thorough and extensive investigation has revealed that Mascarelli conspired with Johnston and was, in fact, the person responsible for Mr. Rollason’s death," Billhimer said.

"Additionally, our investigation has revealed 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," he said.

Bolstad, Krysiak, and Palumbo each were indicted on charges of hindering apprehension and desecration/disturbing of human remains in connection with Rollason's death, the prosecutor's office said.

Mascarelli, Bolstad, Krysiak, and Palumbo were at the home at 1905 Ravenwood Drive on July 5 when law enforcement arrived to arrest Maxwell A. Johnston, 35, in connection with the June 27 fatal shooting of Gabriella Caroleo, 25, of Manchester.

Bolstad, Krysiak, and Palumbo left the home immediately when authorities arrived to arrest Johnston. But Mascarelli remained in the home with Johnston during the nearly seven-hour standoff, later admitting to authorities that she had allowed Johnston to stay with her for four days despite knowing Johnston was being sought in Caroleo's killing, according to an affidavit filed in the case.

The standoff ended with Johnston, who was a ranking member of the Bloods street gang, taking his own life with a gunshot to the head, but the investigation was just beginning, authorities have said.

During the investigation into the slaying of Caroleo after Maxwell killed himself, authorities discovered evidence that Rollason, who owned the Ravenwood Drive home, had been killed on or about July 3.

Among the evidence was photos of Mascarelli and Maxwell posing with Rollason's partially dismembered body, including one where Mascarelli had her hand on the handle of a hatchet with the blade in Rollason's chest.

A search warrant executed July 12 at a property in Jackson turned up "numerous" body parts in black bags, along with additional evidence connected to the murder, including a hatchet, authorities said.

The Ocean County Medical Examiner conducted an autopsy and concluded Rollason died from multiple gunshot wounds in addition to blunt force trauma, the prosecutor's office said.

"Although our investigation originally led us to believe that Johnston murdered Mr. Rollason at the Ravenwood Drive residence, our continuing thorough and extensive investigation has revealed that Mascarelli conspired with Johnston and was, in fact, the person responsible for Mr. Rollason’s death," Billhimer said.

"Additionally, our investigation has revealed 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," he said.

Mascarelli, Bolstad and Krysiak remain in the Ocean County Jail, where they have been held since they were arrested. Palumbo was charged in July and released on a summons.

The prosecutor's office has not given a motive for the killings of either Caroleo or Rollason, and has not said how or why Mascarelli, Bolstad, Krysiak and Palumbo came to be at the home.

Previous coverage:

• Fugitive Sought In Fatal Shooting Of Woman, 25, In Manchester
• 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
• Woman, Fugitive Posed With Dismembered Body In Toms River Slaying: Affidavit
• Ocean County Man Sought In Dismemberment Of Toms River Man, Prosecutor Says
• Fugitive In Toms River Dismemberment Case Arrested
• Man Denies Helping Dismember Victim In Toms River Slaying, Says He Just Cleaned Up Blood