Woman Pleads Guilty In Toms River Dismemberment Slaying Uncovered After Standoff

TOMS RIVER, NJ — A woman who holed up in a Toms River home during a police standoff with a man sought in the murder of his ex-girlfriend has pleaded guilty to in the dismemberment death of the owner of the home, the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office said Monday.

Elizabeth C. Mascarelli, 29, pleaded guilty Monday to aggravated manslaughter in the death of Kerry Rollason, 56, before Superior Court Judge Guy P. Ryan in Toms River, Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer said.

Mascarelli initially was arrested July 5, following a nearly seven-hour standoff at a home on Ravenwood Drive in Toms River where authorities were trying to arrest Maxwell A. Johnston, 35, in connection with the June 27 fatal shooting of Gabriella Caroleo, 25, of Manchester.

Mascarelli was charged with harboring a fugitive when authorities learned Johnston had been staying with her for four days, despite her knowing that he was sought in the slaying of Caroleo. As authorities continued to investigate they found photos of Maxwell and Mascarelli posing with the partially dismembered body of Rollason, her holding the handle of a hatchet stuck in Rollason's chest taken in the basement of the home.

Authorities later determined Rollason had been killed in the home sometime on July 3, and then dismembered and the parts of his body taken to a property in Jackson. On July 12 authorities found the parts in black plastic bags along with a hatchet, and on July 15 she 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.

The investigation later revealed Mascarelli was the person who killed Rollason and had conspired with Maxwell to do it, and she was indicted on Oct. 24 on charges of murder and conspiracy to commit murder, in addition to other charges.

She is scheduled for sentencing on Jan. 31, at which time the prosecutor's office will be seeking a term of 25 years in prison subject to the No Early Release Act, Billhimer said.

Billhimer said charges remain pending against three others indicted in connection with the killing of Rollason — Danielle M. Bolstad, 42, of Barnegat; Jared M. Krysiak, 34, of Brick Township, and Jarred Palumbo, 36, of Manchester.

"Although Mascarelli was originally facing more significant charges with greater sentencing exposure, this plea agreement has been entered into in the interests of justice and with the approval of the victim’s next of kin," Billhimer said.

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
• Woman Indicted On Murder Charge In Toms River Dismemberment Case