NJ Man Gets 55 Years In Prison For Killing Plainsboro Co-Worker

SOUTH BRUNSWICK, NJ — A New Jersey man was sentenced to 55 years in prison for the 2019 stabbing death of his colleague.

Kenneth Saal, 33, of Lindenwold was sentenced on Monday by Judge Pedro J. Jimenez. On Nov.22 he pleaded guilty to first-degree murder, second-degree burglary and fourth-degree stalking in connection with the death of Carolyn Byington, 26, of Plainsboro. More: 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.

“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.”

During the plea, Saal admitted that in April 2019 he copied Byington’s house key while she was at work and used the key to enter her apartment on multiple days in the following months.

He 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.

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 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. More: Lunch-Break Killer Stalked Ridge Native Before Murder: Report

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

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