A New Jersey woman and an alleged Bloods gang member poses with the dismembered body of a landowner with an axe thrust into his chest in a gruesome photo unexpectedly uncovered by investigators during a series of recent crimes.
The horrific story began last month when 25-year-old Gabriella Caloleo got into an argument with her ex-boyfriend in Manchester Township, near the central New Jersey coast. On June 27, Caloleo reportedly called 911, telling authorities that her ex-boyfriend, 35-year-old Maxwell Johnston, had shot her. Caloleo was taken by helicopter to Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune, where she later died.
Police brought cadaver-sniffing dogs to the property and made the horrifying discovery.
Ocean County Deputy Prosecutor Eleni DeMestihas said Caloleo texted his mother just before the fatal shooting, saying he feared for his life and asked her to call police.
On July 5, detectives from the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crimes Unit, Manchester Township Police Department and the U.S. Marshals Service finally found Johnston at a home in Toms River.
Johnston — Allegedly a member of the Bloods gang The man, who was in possession of a gun during the seven-hour standoff, is said to have barricaded himself in a house with four others.
Sheriff’s negotiators convinced Daniel Bolstad, 42, Jared Krysiak, 34, and Jared Palumbo, 36, to leave the home. A few hours later, Elizabeth Mascarelli, 29, reportedly left the home and was taken to Community Medical Center for treatment of injuries sustained during the standoff.
“A drone was then used to conduct a sweep of the residence and Johnston was found deceased in his bedroom with an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head.” Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office.
Prosecutors accused Mascarelli of harboring Johnston, a known fugitive, for four days despite knowing about Caloleo’s shooting.
Mascarelli was arrested and charged with harboring a fugitive.
The Toms River home where the standoff occurred belongs to 56-year-old Kelly Rollason, who was not at home and is allegedly the homeowner who rented out the property.
Detectives searched the home on a court-authorized search warrant and found a defaced .22-caliber handgun, as well as evidence that a murder had been committed there, according to prosecutors.
On July 11, shocking photos were discovered during a forensic examination of Mascarelli’s mobile phone.
“The photographs showed Mascarelli and Johnston near an individual who was apparently deceased, with the upper part of his leg severed and an axe in his chest, the axe being held by Mascarelli,” DeMestijas said. Asbury Park Press.
The deputy prosecutor said the photos were taken in the basement of Rollason’s home.
Demestijas added: “Further photographs were found of Mascarelli, Johnston and Daniel Bolstad in a wooded area, with Johnston holding a large axe and a burning barrel behind him. There was also a red stained object protruding from the barrel, which appeared to be blood.”
Police determined the wooded area was near Jackson and conducted a search of the property on July 11th.
DeMestijas said investigators found numerous gloves, some similar to those worn by Mascarelli and Johnston in photos, and that examination revealed the gloves were soaked with human blood.
Demestijas noted that he found a knife inside the barrel and two pickaxes and a shovel nearby.
The following day, police brought cadaver-sniffing dogs to the property and made the horrifying discovery.
Police reportedly found multiple body parts inside black bags and blankets about 100 yards from the incinerator. The assistant prosecutor said authorities also found several rounds of 9mm caliber ammunition, an axe pictured being held by Mascarelli, a saw, clothing and multiple latex gloves.
At Mascarelli and Bolstad’s detention hearing Wednesday, DeMestijas said the landowner told investigators he saw Johnston and Mascarelli there on July 3 after Bolstad dropped them off at the incineration barrel area.
Superior Court Judge Wendell E. Daniels ordered Mascarelli and Bolstad held without bail in the Ocean County Jail.
Investigators determined Rollason was killed on July 3rd.
DeMestijas said surveillance footage from a nearby home showed Bolstad’s vehicle leaving at about 12:38 a.m. on July 3 and not returning until 4:31 a.m.
Palumbo reportedly told investigators he was in Krysiak and Rollason’s basement in the early morning hours of July 3 when he suddenly heard three gunshots, after which, Palumbo claims, Johnston told him to leave the home immediately.
Palumbo told detectives that “Johnston returned a short time later and, with the assistance of Mascarelli and Krysiak, began cutting the body’s limbs,” DeMestijas said.
Palumbo admitted to helping move parts of Rollason’s body, the assistant prosecutor said.
Approximately three hours later, Palumbo was allegedly asked to bring several bags from the basement and load them into Bolstad’s vehicle.
Palumbo was charged with hindering the apprehension of Johnston and failing to lawfully dispose of a body.
Rollason’s cause of death was determined to be multiple gunshot wounds in addition to blunt force trauma, and the manner of death was ruled a homicide.
Krysiak is scheduled to have a detention hearing on Friday.
Citing autopsy results from the Ocean County Coroner: Toms River Patch Police said Rollason was shot three times, with bullets piercing his heart and liver. The landlord suffered a severe skull fracture from blunt force trauma. Authorities said Rollason was cut into eight pieces.
“The crimes committed against Mr. Rollason are disturbing and disturbing, and I thank the law enforcement professionals who worked so hard to expose these depraved and callous crimes,” Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billheimer said in a statement.
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