A Seaside Heights woman was charged with harboring a fugitive after a man wanted for the murder of a 25-year-old woman was found dead of an apparently self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Elizabeth Mascarelli, 29, allegedly allowed Maxwell Johnston, 35, of Manchester Township, to stay with her for four days despite her knowledge that Johnston was wanted for murder.
Johnston had been sought in the killing last month of 25-year-old Gabriella Caroleo of Seaside Heights, according to Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer.
Johnston was found dead Friday of an apparently self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head in a home on Ravenwood Drive in Toms River after an hours-long standoff with police, according to Billhimer.
Mascarelli was taken from the same home to a local hospital with injuries she sustained during the standoff.
She was charged with harboring a fugitive from justice and is expected to be transferred from the hospital to the Ocean County Jail, according to the prosecutor’s office.
Investigators have not disclosed a motive in Caroleo’s murder, who was found shot June 27 in Manchester Township.
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Glenn Epps can be reached at gepps@lehighvalleylive.com or glenn_epps_on X (formerly known as Twitter.com), Facebook and Threads.
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