In a chilling case out of Ocean County, New Jersey, Elizabeth Mascarelli, 29, from Seaside Heights, now faces a slew of charges, including murder, conspiracy to commit murder, and desecration of human remains, in connection with the death of 56-year-old Kerry Rollason. This tragic and complex case has evolved significantly, with new revelations linking Mascarelli and three other defendants to Rollason’s killing and the subsequent disturbing cover-up
It all started back in July when law enforcement officials tracked down Maxwell Johnston, a fugitive with alleged ties to another murder, to a house in Toms River.
Johnston killed a woman and left her body roadside at a busy Manchester Township intersection days earlier. Police tracked him and his accomplices to a house near Toms River High School East.
After a lengthy standoff that ended with Johnston’s suicide, investigators discovered guns, a hatchet, and clues pointing to a second possible crime at the residence. Soon after, authorities located black bags containing Rollason’s dismembered body parts at a Jackson Township property, along with further evidence indicating a brutal homicide.
During the standoff, Mascarelli posed with Maxwell, glorifying and romanticizing their murders.
Prosecutors now allege that Mascarelli not only aided Johnston but was the primary suspect in Rollason’s murder. She reportedly conspired with Johnston to kill Rollason using multiple firearms and a hatchet, with investigators concluding that Rollason’s death involved gunshot wounds and blunt force trauma.
Three other individuals, Danielle Bolstad, Jared Krysiak, and Jared Palumbo, are also implicated, facing charges of hindering apprehension and desecrating human remains for their roles in assisting with the disposal of Rollason’s body. Mascarelli, meanwhile, remains detained in Ocean County Jail on an array of charges. Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer stated that the investigation initially pointed toward Johnston as the killer but has since revealed Mascarelli’s deeper involvement in the crime.
