From Domestic Violence to Dismemberment: How Maxwell Johnston Murdered Two and Led a Grisly Cover-Up in NJ
It involved murder, extensive crime scene investigations, and the gruesome desecration of human remains.
According to police reports, this true crime story began when Maxwell Johnston was identified as the prime suspect in the murder of his girlfriend, Gabriella Caroleo.
But what followed was even more disturbing: the discovery of a second victim, Kerry Rollason, whose body was dismembered and discarded in black trash bags.
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| Maxwell Johnston |
The Initial Crime: A Tragic Love Story Turns Deadly
On June 27, 2024, Gabriella Caroleo, a 25-year-old mother of a 3-year-old, called her family in a panic.
She told them she was in danger, as reported by Law&Crime.
Hours later, Caroleo was found dead in Manchester Township, New Jersey, the victim of a brutal murder.
According to police reports, Caroleo’s boyfriend, 35-year-old Maxwell Johnston, was quickly identified as the prime suspect.
The couple’s relationship had been tumultuous, with Caroleo’s family revealing that Johnston had a history of abusive behavior.
“She called us that night, scared for her life,” Caroleo’s mother told local media. “We never imagined it would end like this.”
According to the criminal complaint filed against Johnston, Caroleo had been shot multiple times, before her body was dumped in a secluded area of Manchester Township.
Crime scene investigators worked tirelessly to gather evidence, including shell casings and forensic samples, which ultimately linked Johnston to the murder.
However, this was only the beginning.
As the criminal investigation deepened, authorities discovered that Johnston’s violent tendencies extended far beyond Caroleo’s murder.
His actions soon led them to a second victim and a crime so gruesome that it shocked the entire community and beyond.
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| Gabriella Caroleo |
A Standoff and a Grisly Discovery
On July 5, 2024, the local police department in Toms River, New Jersey, descended on a quiet home on Ravenwood Drive, unaware of the horrors they were about to uncover.
Maxwell Johnston, the prime suspect in Gabriella Caroleo’s murder, had been tracked to this location after days on the run.
What began as a routine arrest quickly escalated into a tense standoff that would reveal a second disturbing crime.
When officers arrived at the home, they were met with resistance.
Inside were Johnston and four others: Elizabeth Mascarelli, Danielle Bolstad, Jared Krysiak, and Jarred Palumbo.
Bolstad, Krysiak, and Palumbo surrendered without incident, but Johnston refused to come out.
Armed and barricaded inside, he held Mascarelli with him, creating a dangerous situation for everyone involved.
Negotiators tried to coax Johnston out for hours, but he remained defiant.
After some time, Mascarelli, who was visibly injured, eventually emerged from the home.
Authorities later learned she had been harboring Johnston for four days, fully aware he was wanted for murder.
Once she was safely out, police deployed a drone to assess the situation inside.
What they found was shocking: Johnston was dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
But the nightmare was far from over.
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| The standoff |
As crime scene investigators began their work, they uncovered evidence of a second murder.
The home belonged to 56-year-old Kerry Rollason, who was mysteriously missing at the time.
Investigators discovered overwhelming evidence suggesting Rollason had been murdered inside the house, and his remains were moved to a different location.
The investigation took an even darker turn on July 12, when police executed a search warrant at a property in Jackson Township, about 20 miles north of Toms River.
There, they made a grisly discovery: numerous body parts stuffed into black trash bags, along with additional evidence linking the remains to Rollason.
Forensic investigations revealed that Rollason had been shot multiple times, beaten to death, and then dismembered.
The details were horrifying.
According to detectives, Rollason’s body was meticulously dismembered, with his remains transported to the Jackson Township property in a calculated effort to conceal the crime.
Detectives also uncovered evidence that showed that Johnston had enlisted the help of Mascarelli, Bolstad, Krysiak, and Palumbo to carry out the gruesome act.
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| Elizabeth Mascarelli |
Legal Proceedings: A Case That Shocked the Courtroom
The legal proceedings in this true crime case involved multiple defendants, each facing serious charges.
It also revealed shocking details that left even seasoned legal professionals stunned.
Elizabeth Mascarelli, the central figure in the case, pleaded guilty to aggravated manslaughter and was sentenced to 25 years in prison.
During her trial, prosecutors revealed disturbing details about her involvement, including the fact that she had taken photos of Kerry Rollason’s body after his murder.
Assistant Ocean County Prosecutor Julie Peterson claimed she took the pictures “as a memory of something she seemed to be proud of,” highlighting the callousness of Mascarelli’s actions.
Mascarelli’s defense attorney, Glenn Kassman, argued that she had been under Johnston’s influence, claiming he had terrorized her and others in the home.
“He was suspicious and paranoid of everyone and everything,” Kassman said.
He also added that Johnston had brandished firearms frequently in the house and even attacked pillows with knives in fits of rage.
However, the judge was unmoved by these claims, emphasizing the severity of Mascarelli’s actions, including her decision to harbor a known fugitive and participate in the desecration of Rollason’s remains.
Elizabeth Mascarelli
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| Jared Krysiak |
Jared Krysiak, another defendant, pleaded guilty to desecration of human remains and was sentenced to eight years in prison.
During his trial, Krysiak admitted to using a pry bar to separate Rollason’s joints and helping transport the body parts to the Jackson Township property.
His defense attorney, Danny Ljunberg, attempted to argue that Krysiak was unlikely to reoffend, but Superior Court Judge Guy P. Ryan dismissed this argument.
Danielle Bolstad and Jarred Palumbo also faced charges related to their roles in the crime.
Bolstad pleaded guilty to desecration of human remains, while Palumbo pleaded guilty to hindering apprehension.
Both are scheduled to be sentenced on March 14, 2025.
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| Danielle Bolstad and Jarred Palumbo |
Throughout the trials, prosecutors painted a vivid picture of the defendants’ actions, describing the case as “the plot of a horror movie.”
Peterson emphasized the inhumanity of the crimes, particularly the dismemberment and disposal of Rollason’s body.
“It’s an absolute degradation of a corpse,” she stated.
“The person was chopped into pieces and moved from one township to another. It’s truly unconscionable.”
The legal proceedings also revealed the extent of Johnston’s influence over the group.
Mascarelli claimed he had threatened to kill Rollason and manipulated her into participating in the crime.
However, her decision to take photos of the victim’s body and her casual demeanor—such as going to McDonald’s with the others before returning to dismember the body—left a lasting impression on the court.
The legal proceedings brought a measure of justice to the victims and their families, but the case remains a stark reminder of the depths of human depravity.
Let us know your thoughts in the comments about this disturbing case.
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source
https://lawandcrime.com/crime/truest-form-of-desecration-man-who-used-pry-bar-to-separate-joints-during-murder-victims-dismemberment-headed-to-prison/
https://lawandcrime.com/crime/depraved-and-soulless-cops-investigating-womans-murder-discover-mans-dismembered-remains-stuffed-in-black-bags/
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