GUILTY NJ - Carolyn Byington, 26, killed inside her home, Plainsboro, 10 June 2019 *Arrest* #2

[MissyMom]

KS describes the parking area at park where he works on his car with familiarity. However, I don't believe he was at that spot on the date he alleged killed Carolyn, and probably one of many lies that helped get him arrested.

These were video statements he made to LE nine days after CB was killed that were played in court today.

MOO

I was trying to figure out if his alibi made any sense.

 

[MissyMom]

Following a slew of detailed allegations, judge keeps accused lunch break killer in jail

WOW! So they believe it was an infatuation with her. I hope they have more evidence than what is mentioned in this article.

 

[Seattle1]

Aug 30, 2019

A man accused of murdering his coworker on her lunch break will remain in jail, a judge ruled Friday during an emotional detention hearing in which prosecutors cited cell phone tower data, a suspicious text and alleged comments made to other coworkers as reasons to keep him locked up pending trial.

[...]

Prosecutors allege Saal left his workplace at 12:47 p.m. on June 10 and drove to Byington’s Plainsboro apartment, where he stabbed her multiple times and then returned to work at 2:52 p.m. for a meeting with a supervisor.

In that time, Saal told police he changed his undershirt and texted his boss asking to push back the time of their meeting, Dolinger said. As the days passed, Dolinger alleged, coworkers described Saal as fidgety and said they noticed scratches on his knuckles.

[...]

“(Saal) was somewhat intrigued by the victim,” Dolinger said. “Clearly, this defendant had some infatuation to say the least with the victim and had some plan to commit the heinous crime he did.”

[...]

After Saal’s arrest, Dolinger said, prosecutors received an anonymous voicemail from a “previous acquaintance” of Saal’s. The caller said Saal - 11 years ago - told the caller he planned to rape and murder his crush.

Prosecutors are currently trying to identify the caller.

“What’s important for this court to really take into account is, who is Mr. Saal behind the facade he presents in court,” Dolinger said.

Following a slew of detailed allegations, judge keeps accused lunch break killer in jail

 

[Blondie in Spokane]

Wow!

 

[Gardenista]

My hinky meter didn't go off during the video of his police interview, but the anonymous caller thing creeped me out. I hope they can find the caller.

 

[borndem]

A park setting near a golf course (The Meadows at Middlesex Golf Course) could be Morris Davison Park in Plainsboro, NJ next to Hunters Glen Apartments where Carolyn lived.

If that location was the one he was thinking of when he was telling his alibi tale, that doesn't say much for his intelligence, now does it?! He may have said that because he drove by that area coming or going to her apt., or he could have worked on his car there at a previous time.

 

[njlady]

That really went in a direction that I wasn't expecting. I'm not sure how I'd be feeling if I were his wife.

 

[borndem]

Didn't KS get a speeding ticket on June 19? I may be wrong.

Welcome to Websleuths,
njlady !!​

 

[njlady]

Welcome to Websleuths,
njlady !!​

Thank you, borndem! I was lurking on the Watts thread last year. Then this case caught my attention.

 

[Blondie in Spokane]

From your link Seattle:

“Another coworker alleged that Saal spoke about being upset after seeing a license plate number while driving that almost matched Byington’s plate, Dolinger said.”

Now this is just weird. I get that he had Carolyn’s license plate number which doesn’t really come as a surprise, but why would he tell a coworker that? Just like asking a coworker if he could be convicted of a crime by circumstantial evidence only (paraphrasing) What is wrong with this guy?

 

[ilovechili]

Avalon Zoppo‏ @AvalonZoppo
The father of Kenneth Saal, accused of murdering a coworker in her Plainsboro apartment, spoke in Middlesex County court. He defended his son’s statement that he was making repairs to his car at the time Carolyn Byington was killed.

10:03 AM - 30 Aug 2019 pst

Avalon Zoppo‏ @AvalonZoppo
Saal’s attorney played an interview Saal gave to police on June 19, nine days after Byington was killed.

11:56 AM - 30 Aug 2019 pst

I might be missing something but a sound problem is no reason not to back to work. Now a vehicle with a flat or not running, that would be a different story. What is a SOUND problem? A horn, Bluetooth, etc.?
See embed videos at twitter links

KS states he was working on his car in a park setting near a golf course during lunch -- may have eaten at Wendy's (park near Canal Pointe; 5-10 minutes away from building per KS).

KS dad states KS has working knowledge of auto mechanics as dad worked in auto repair business for 30 years. KS was correcting a sound problem with his Honda Accord. They would text constantly about auto fixes.

 

[reallyplainsboro]

12:47pm-2:52pm, just over two hour lunch break, was that routine for him?

Does he have a history of long lunches? He said he shows up between 9 and 930 daily.
Car spotting matching description around 2:04. Did he go to buy new clothes?

Is it his car, is he sitting in it, are his plates visible?
Does anyone think its possible that someone else is responsible for the murder?
Is two hours long enough to commit this heinous crime, clean up and return to work?

 

[Inthedetails]

12:47pm-2:52pm, just over two hour lunch break, was that routine for him?

Does he have a history of long lunches? He said he shows up between 9 and 930 daily.
Car spotting matching description around 2:04. Did he go to buy new clothes?

Is it his car, is he sitting in it, are his plates visible?
Does anyone think its possible that someone else is responsible for the murder?
Is two hours long enough to commit this heinous crime, clean up and return to work?

Two hours is plenty of time, imo.

jmo

 

[Inthedetails]

That really went in a direction that I wasn't expecting. I'm not sure how I'd be feeling if I were his wife.

I didn't expect the infatuation angle either, to be honest.

Did she rebuff him? Or did he have a fantasy, as the caller suggested, of killing women he had crushes on, and he decided to fulfill the fantasy?

jmo

 

[zecats]

I didn't expect the infatuation angle either, to be honest.

Did she rebuff him? Or did he have a fantasy, as the caller suggested, of killing women he had crushes on, and he decided to fulfill the fantasy?

jmo

Maybe the infatuation had something to do with Carolyn's resemblance to his wife. I can't get that out of my head as more than a coincidence. Something like intense anger towards his wife, but can't kill her so kill someone in her place. Or, she reminded him of the time before the baby came along and he was interested in an affair, which she rebuffed. All IMO, of course.

 

[Inthedetails]

Maybe the infatuation had something to do with Carolyn's resemblance to his wife. I can't get that out of my head as more than a coincidence. Something like intense anger towards his wife, but can't kill her so kill someone in her place. Or, she reminded him of the time before the baby came along and he was interested in an affair, which she rebuffed. All IMO, of course.

You might be on to something. jmo

 

[epiphany]

12:47pm-2:52pm, just over two hour lunch break, was that routine for him?

Does he have a history of long lunches? He said he shows up between 9 and 930 daily.
Car spotting matching description around 2:04. Did he go to buy new clothes?

Is it his car, is he sitting in it, are his plates visible?
Does anyone think its possible that someone else is responsible for the murder?
Is two hours long enough to commit this heinous crime, clean up and return to work?

Bringing up this anonymous caller reeked of Pros desperation to me:

As for the anonymous caller, Roberts offered: “That (caller) indicates that she called earlier....She says she had a dating relationship with Saal many years ago. Perhaps she’s feeling burned and vindictive."

“She said the target of that fantasy was his wife. The mother of his child. The person whose in court today. He didn’t kill and rape his wife judge,” Roberts said.

Following a slew of detailed allegations, judge keeps accused lunch break killer in jail

The "suspicious" text to his wife did not impress me either.

Waiting to hear more on results of further DNA testing, but as of today I can understand how it took so long to charge him.

 

[ilovechili]

So one article or another sounds like he was a stalker and yet he had a meeting with his boss that he blew off and put off until later. Unless this is a REALLY casual work place, taking time off to fix something to do with "sound" when you have a meeting with your superior seems a bit hard to believe.

That sounds to me like she perhaps complained over something and he got rid of the "witness" before meeting with his boss...

Just speculation to fit the facts we now have or it seems as if we do... Imo this is a small apartment and his DNA is there. He had cuts on his fingers, that would seal the deal I would think.

Jmo.

 

[MissyMom]

I would think they would be able to track down the anonymous caller. If it was 11 years ago he was 19 at the time and in college. I bet if they follow up with friends from college they could find out who he dated at the time. Also, if she called the prosecutor’s office, shouldn’t they be able to trace that call?

Was he fulfilling his fantasy from 11 years ago with someone who looked like his wife?

I do hope the prosecutor’s office has additional evidence that hasn’t been heard yet. I will feel more confident that they have the right guy if it’s a positive match with the upcoming DNA results.

 

[zecats]

I would think they would be able to track down the anonymous caller. If it was 11 years ago he was 19 at the time and in college. I bet if they follow up with friends from college they could find out who he dated at the time. Also, if she called the prosecutor’s office, shouldn’t they be able to trace that call?

Also, was he fulfilling his fantasy from 11 years ago with someone who looked like his wife?

I do hope the prosecutor’s office has additional evidence that hasn’t been heard yet. I will feel more confident that they have the right guy if it’s a positive match with the upcoming DNA results.

Supposedly, as per previously posted articles, he had been dating his wife since 2008 (11 years). Possibly it's someone he was seeing right before her though. They also attended high school together, but it's not been reported they dated in high school.

Kenneth Saal: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know | Heavy.com