Accused Lunch-Break Killer Indicted In NJ Co-Worker's Death: Cops

PLAINSBORO TOWNSHIP, NJ — A Camden County man has been indicted in the murder of co-worker he reportedly stalked before killing her during her lunch break on June 10, Middlesex County Acting Prosecutor Christopher L.C. Kuberiet announced.

Kenneth C. Saal, 30 of Lindenwold, was indicted for first-degree murder, burglary in the second degree, endangering an injured victim, hindering one’s own apprehension, burglary, and possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, all third-degree crimes.

The indictment also includes charges of stalking and tampering with evidence, both fourth-degree crimes, in the death of 26-year-old Carolyn Byington, of Plainsboro.

Saal was arrested and charged with first-degree murder in August after lab results couldn't exclude him as a match for Y-STR DNA" that was found under Byington's fingernails, according to a copy of the complaint provided by the Middlesex County Court.

Court documents also said Saal and Byington had taken their lunch break at the same time on the afternoon of June 10. Saal, a staff accountant at US Engine in Princeton, told detectives he had only seen Byington, who was a project manager, once that day.

Police also claimed that Saal was actually on an extended lunch break, although he later was unable or unwilling to tell investigators how he spent his lunch break that day, authorities said in the complaint.

A text message he sent to his supervisor stating that he would be late returning to work because he was getting work done on his car later turned out to be a lie, authorities said.

While Byington was at her apartment having lunch, detectives said she was stabbed several times and suffered blunt force trauma, according to court documents. Police didn't say what object was used to attack Byington.

Co-workers said they saw cuts on Saal's knuckles and hands in the days immediately after Byington died, according to authorities. His demeanor had also changed, and he asked a co-worker if he could be arrested on circumstantial evidence alone.

It was her co-workers who had requested a wellness check when Byington never returned from the lunch break, according to court documents.

Plainsboro police responded to Byington's home at about 5:57 p.m. at which time they found her body in her apartment, authorities said. She was pronounced dead at 7:36 p.m.

Detectives later obtained images via Google Earth that show Saal was at Byington's apartment complex in the days before she was killed, nj.com reports. One of her neighbors also told detectives he was in the complex weeks before the murder.

The indictment was handed up following a presentation to a Middlesex County Grand Jury by Middlesex County Assistant Prosecutor Tzvi Dolinger. Saal is facing a mandatory life without parole sentence on the first-degree murder count.

Anyone with information about this case is asked to call Detective Tim McMahon of the Plainsboro Police Department at 609-799-2333, ext. 1627, or Detective David Abromaitis of the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office at 732-745-4436.