NJ woman, 3 others indicted in brutal killing, dismembering of landlord

A New Jersey woman has been indicted for murder and related charges in the killing and dismembering of her landlord, a shocking case that also includes charges against three other people accused of trying to get rid of human remains, prosecutors said Thursday.

Elizabeth Mascarelli, 29, of Seaside Heights, is accused of shooting 56-year-old Kerry Rollason to death on July 3, Ocean County Prosecutors Bradley D. Bilhimer said in a news release.

On Thursday, Mascarelli was indicted by an Ocean County grand jury on a dozen charges, including conspiracy to commit murder, desecration of human remains as well as weapon offenses.

Three of her alleged co-conspirators, 42-year-old Danielle Bolstad of Barnegat, 34-year-old Jared Krysiak of Brick Township and 36-year-old Jared Palumbo of Manchester, were each indicted on charges of hindering apprehension and desecration/disturbing of human remains in connection with the same case.

Their indictment follows a series of events that began unfolding in late June.

According to prosecutors, a search for a suspect in the June 27 killing of a Seaside Heights woman, 25-year-old Gabriella Caroleo, led police to a home in Toms River.

When authorities arrived at the home, located on Ravenwood Drive, they successfully called out three occupants, Bolstad, Krysiak and Palumbo. Mascarelli and the man they sought for Caroleo’s murder, 35-year-old Maxwell Johnston, remained inside.

After a standoff that lasted for hours, Mascarelli turned herself in. Johnston was later found dead in a bedroom with an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound to his head.

During the investigation into Caroleo’s murder, police found evidence that another possible killing had been committed at the home.

On July 12, investigators discovered body parts in black bags along with additional evidence connected to the murder, including a hatchet.

A post-mortem examination conducted by the Ocean County Medical Examiner’s Office identified the victim as Rollason, the owner of the property, and determined his cause of death to be from multiple gunshot wounds in addition to blunt force trauma.

“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 in a statement.

“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,” the prosecutor added.

All four suspects are being held at the Ocean County Jail. Mascarelli, Bolstad and Krysiak are awaiting trial, while Palumbo is being held pending an initial court appearance.