Lunch-Break Killer Stalked NJ Coworker Before Murder: Report

PLAINSBORO TOWNSHIP, NJ — A man accused of murdering his co-worker during her lunch break earlier this year appears to have been stalking her in the days and weeks leading up to the killing.

Detectives have obtained images via Google Earth that show 30-year-old Kenneth C. Saal, of Lindenwold, was at Carolyn 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.

An assistant prosecutor said during a pre-indictment conference on Monday that this amounts to stalking, according to the report. His attorney maintains his innocence, but didn’t comment on the stalking allegations.

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.

See related: Basking Ridge Native Killed By Co-Worker On Lunch Break: Cops

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.

"We have friends, we have young children. It's not something that happens very often in this area, so of course it's very, very sad," one Plainsboro resident told NBC 4 in the days after the alleged murder.