Seaside Heights woman charged in connection to hiding accused Manchester killer

Authorities charged a Seaside Heights woman with harboring a fugitive from justice, saying she hid a man accused of murdering a woman in Manchester last month.

Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer's office charged 29-year-old Elizabeth Mascarelli on Saturday, July 6, following an hours-long standoff with police in Toms River on July 5.

Billhimer said Mascarelli helped to hide Maxwell Johnston, 35, of Manchester at an address on Ravenwood Drive in Toms River. Johnston is accused of killing Gabriella Caroleo, 25, of Seaside Heights.

On Friday, detectives from the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office, Manchester Township Police and U.S. Marshals Service found Johnston at the Ravenwood Drive home, according to the Prosecutor's Office. Authorities were searching for Johnston for days and accused him of the fatal shooting of Caroleo on June 27 in Manchester.

Caroleo, the mother of a 3-year-old son, was found shot in the stomach at Ridgeway Road and Hope Chapel Road in Manchester.

At the Ravenwood Drive home, U.S. Marshals called people out of the home and three left, but Johnston and Mascarelli stayed inside, according to the Prosecutor's Office. Johnston was armed and an hours-long standoff ensued, according to authorities.

Mascarelli eventually came out of the home to be treated at Community Medical Center for wounds suffered during the ordeal, according to the Prosecutor's Office.

"Further investigation revealed that Mascarelli had allowed Johnston to stay at the residence on Ravenwood Drive with her for four days — despite her knowledge of the murder of Ms. Caroleo and Johnston’s alleged involvement in it," the Prosecutor's Office said in a news release.

Authorities charged Mascarelli at the hospital with harboring a fugitive from justice. She will be transferred to the Ocean County Jail, Toms River, once released from Community Medical Center, the Prosecutor's Office said.

Johnston was found dead inside the home from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head.

Amanda Oglesby is an Ocean County native who covers education and the environment. She has worked for the Press for more than 15 years. Reach her at @OglesbyAPP, aoglesby@gannettnj.com or 732-557-5701.