Ridge Grad's Stabbing Murder Leads To Prison For South Jersey Man

MIDDLESEX COUNTY, NJ — A man has been sentenced to prison for the 2019 stabbing death of his co-worker and Ridge High School graduate in Central Jersey, officials said.

Officials in Middlesex County said Kenneth Saal of Lindenwold murdered his colleague Carolyn Byerson, of Plainsboro, in her apartment when she went home for lunch in August 2019.

A 2011 Ridge High School graduate Byington had been living in an apartment in Plainsboro and working at a marketing firm, Engine US in Princeton, with Saal, 30. She had worked at the company as a Market Research Project Manager since 2016, according to her obituary. Her parents, Robert and Jennifer Byington, still live in Basking Ridge. More— Lunch-Break Killer Stalked Ridge Native Before Murder: Report

Judge Pedro J. Jimenez sentenced Saal to 55 years in New Jersey state prison on Monday, Patch reported. Saal, 33, pleaded guilty in November to murder, stalking, and burglary charges in connection with the death of 26-year-old Byington. Related article—NJ Man Pleads Guilty To Murder Of Plainsboro Co-Worker: Prosecutor

During his plea, Saal also admitted to he tried to hire an inmate to commit a “copycat murder,” to cast doubt on his guilt. More: Plot To Hire Inmate, Commit 'Copycat Murder' Foiled In Middlesex Co.

Officials said Saal told law enforcement how he planted hidden surveillance cameras to record Byington at home without her knowledge. Saal then described how he murdered Byington on June 10, 2019, when she came home unexpectedly during lunch break and discovered him there. More — New Details As Co-Worker Charged In NJ Woman's Lunch-Break Murder

In a bid to derail his trial and cast doubt on his guilt, Saal admitted that he conspired to hire someone to commit a copycat murder last year. His trial was originally scheduled to commence on Dec. 5, 2022, and Saal wanted a copycat murder to make it look like the Byington’s true killer was still out there, said officials.

He conspired to have one of two witnesses killed, and have their murder staged as a suicide with a note claiming responsibility for Byington’s murder, according to the investigation.

The plot was uncovered when the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office received a letter on October 2022 informing them that Saal planned a copycat murder.

Saal and Byington were co-workers at a marketing firm in Mercer County. According to court documents, he was stalking Byington days before her murder.

On the day of her death, Saal sent a text message to his supervisor saying he would be late returning to work because he was getting work done on his car, documents show.

While Byington was at her apartment having lunch, she was stabbed several times and suffered blunt force trauma, according to court documents.

“We are grateful for the hard work and dedication from Lieutenant David Abromaitis and Sergeant Paul Kelley of the Prosecutor’s Office, Sergeant Timothy McMahon of the Plainsboro Police Department, and the work of other members of the various law enforcement agencies who assisted throughout the investigation of these crimes,” Middlesex County Prosecutor Yolanda Ciccone said.

“Securing justice for the victim in this case would not have been possible if not for their collective efforts.”

— Patch's Sarah Salvadore and Michelle Rotuno-Johnson contributed to this report