Manchester man murdered Seaside Heights mom, cops say, and he's still on the loose

Authorities are searching for a 35-year-old Manchester man accused of slaying 25-year-old Gabriella Caroleo in the township on June 27 .

Maxwell Johnston has been charged with murder and weapons offenses in the shooting of Caroleo of Seaside Heights, Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer and Manchester Police Chief Antonio Ellis said in a statement Wednesday.

Shortly before 5 p.m. that Thursday, Manchester police were sent to Ridgeway Road and Hope Chapel Road after a 911 call came in about a shooting victim.

Police found Caroleo with a gunshot wound to the stomach. She was flown to Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune where she died of her injuries. She is survived by her 3-year-old son.

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“We have been working diligently with our law enforcement partners to locate Johnston," Billhimer said in the statement, adding that the U.S. Marshals Service has joined the search.

Billhimer is urging anyone with information about Johnston's whereabouts to call Detective Denis Mitchell of the prosecutor's office at 732-929-2027, Ext. 2476, or Detective Richard Conklin of the Manchester Township Police Department at 732-657-2009, Ext. 4211.

Johnston is a career criminal.

From 2009 to 2015, Johnston racked up four prior convictions for guns and drugs. He escaped a jail sentence until the last of them, which cost him nearly seven years in state prison, according to court records.

The accused killer was released in March 2022, but found himself locked up again last August, according to the state Department of Corrections. He was again released from state prison on the most recent, unknown charge — possibly a parole violation — in December.

Among the weapons violations he's been charged with in the murder case is possession of a weapon by someone with a prior conviction.

The young mother he is charged with murdering was a "vibrant, strong independent woman who loved the color purple and enjoyed laughing with her great sense of humor. She collected Jordans and Nike sneakers, and listened to rap, R&B and country music and was kind, giving, good hearted," her obituary read .

Her brother-in-law, Matthew Souders, recalled the woman he called Gabby and Scoob as "the most caring person I've ever met. She was a great mother to her son, a great family member and a great person all around."

He added: "She was always independent and never relied on anyone. She loved her son so, so much. If you were around Gabby you would always be smiling or laughing, her presence was contagious. She was the biggest goofball. Birthdays, holidays and other events were always a great time because of Gabby."

The family has started a GoFundMe account to help with funeral and other expenses. Sounders is the sponsor on behalf of Carolea's mother, Regina Gach.

Ken Serrano covers breaking news, crime and investigations. Reach him at kserrano@gannettnj.com .

This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Manchester man murdered Seaside Heights mom, cops say, and he's still on the loose