A New Jersey woman pleaded guilty to aggravated manslaughter on Monday in the death of her roommate, Frank Stochel, 55, in February 2020.
Mary Carbone, 60, admitted to using various household items, including a wooden board, a heavy-duty tape dispenser, and a shower curtain rod, to fatally beat Stochel in their shared residence.
Authorities discovered Stochel’s lifeless body on the floor of their Pine Lake Park home after responding to a report of an unresponsive male. The medical examiner determined the death was a homicide and identified the cause of death as blunt force trauma to the head.
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During the investigation, authorities learned that Carbone and Stochel had a strained relationship, often engaging in verbal and physical altercations. Carbone confessed to the killing, detailing how she repeatedly struck Stochel with the aforementioned items during an argument.
“Although Mary Carbone was originally facing a murder charge in connection with Mr. Stochel’s death, legitimate proof issues arose during the course of our investigation that we simply could not ignore, and which we were ethically bound to take into account in evaluating this very difficult case,” Prosecutor Billhimer stated. “We believe this to be a just and reasonable resolution after careful consideration of all the facts and circumstances. Additionally, Mr. Stochel’s family was consulted in connection with this resolution, and approved of same,” Prosecutor Billhimer concluded.
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Carbone’s sentencing is scheduled for October 13th. Under the plea agreement, she faces a 10-year prison sentence with 85% parole ineligibility, as mandated by the No Early Release Act.
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