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

[GraceRose]

Ditch the phone somewhere, go to her apartment without the phone, return to phone and pick it up, text work, resume activities.

Maybe the phone will prove premeditation.

 

[Wild Rose]

I wonder, noting his multiple moving violations, if he was completely FULL OF HIMSELF. Just too perfect and the cops were all just dumb to pull him over. I wonder if he showed up thinking he would surprise her as he is God's gift to women and he never thought she would reject him. IMO. Once she rejects him, she is nothing to him. Maybe she got physical with him in rejecting him and he couldn't handle being manhandled by a woman. Another blow to his huge ego IMO.

 

[TruthIsStranger]

This case has got a hold of me! I am obsessed with finding out WHY he did this and WHAT he did to be alone with her. I also want to know what their previous relationship was like and if she knew he had intense feelings (anger, lust, fear, hurt, jealousy, ???) towards her.

It reminds me of the Makenzie Lueck case when we couldn't figure out what brought her to his house at that crazy hour after a funeral and plane ride, or what she might have seen in him. We still don't know, do we?

Now I'm wondering if he met her at her door with a knife saying, I just want to talk. That's all. I'm not going to hurt you if you just talk to me. IDK...

 

[TruthIsStranger]

I wonder, noting his multiple moving violations, if he was completely FULL OF HIMSELF. Just too perfect and the cops were all just dumb to pull him over. I wonder if he showed up thinking he would surprise her as he is God's gift to women and he never thought she would reject him. IMO. Once she rejects him, she is nothing to him. Maybe she got physical with him in rejecting him and he couldn't handle being manhandled by a woman. Another blow to his huge ego IMO.

Anyone remember how delusional Susan Powell's father-in-law was about her feelings towards him? He read every rejection and distancing maneuver as proof that she was afraid of the "intensity" of her feelings towards him.

I can see someone like Carolyn being professional, friendly and polite at work, even to people she loathed, and he might have read too much into this. Or perhaps she turned him down saying "I'm focused on work at this point in my life" but then he found out that she had started dating someone and became enraged.

 

[acutename]

Could he have planted his cell phone somewhere during lunch?

jmo

does he have more than one phone?

 

[borndem]

New Details As Co-Worker Charged In NJ Woman's Lunch-Break Murder

8/23/19

[...]

Kenneth C. Saal, 30 of Lindenwold was arrested and charged with first-degree murder in the June death of 26-year-old Carolyn Byington, of Plainsboro, this week, authorities announced. He was arrested at his home on Wednesday after a DNA lab conducted testing on numerous people as part of the investigation.

On Aug. 19, the lab that conducted the testing told the prosecutor's office that Saal "couldn't be excluded 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.

Additionally, a car that matched the vehicle belonging to Saal was seen in the Plainsboro area at 2:04 p.m. that day, according to the complaint. Neighbors previously told News 12 they heard screams coming from Byington's home at about 1 p.m.

The Middlesex County Prosecutor's Office has not provided a motive in the case.

[...]

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.

[...]

Sources previously told NJ Advance Media that Byington's attacker was already in her home when she arrived. They also said Byington typically didn't go home for lunch.

bbm
"already in her home," hmmm, interesting. I wonder how that was determined and who determined it. LE, I assume. Did he just use a credit card type thing to get into her apt? If so, everyone in that complex ought to raise hell to mgmt.
If he were in there waiting for her, it does make the most sense for the suspect -- he wouldn't have to hide somewhere and wait for her to show up; he wouldn't have to knock on the door and have her possibly not invite or let him in; he would be ready to attack if that was his plan. If she rebuffed his advances, etc., he would get the jump on her and have his weapon ready to use.
I'd like more info on this, but if it is a LE investigative tool of sorts, I doubt there will be any additional info.

 

[Wild Rose]

If he was infatuated with her, he could have picked up her keys one day and made a copy. I leave my keys all over at work, I get so busy.

 

[Gardenista]

I'm concerned about the way they are characterizing the DNA evidence as "cannot be excluded" because I don't think I've ever heard it said that way. I'd feel much better if they said the DNA they found matched his.

 

[DMA19]

I agree. I keep trying to temper my own personal feelings on this and think logically about this. If the police took DNA from several people obviously KS was one of them and that might have prompted him to hire an attorney and start asking about being convicted for circumstantial evidence. Prior to his arrest I did research on the agency they work for and it seems like a lot of people have been unhappy there. He could have potentially been on a job interview which is why he lied about a mechanic to his boss. But that doesn't explain the cuts on his hands. I really want to see the case that both the Defense and Prosecution bring to the table to get a better idea of what actually happened. There's still so much that we don't know.

 

[epiphany]

I'm concerned about the way they are characterizing the DNA evidence as "cannot be excluded" because I don't think I've ever heard it said that way. I'd feel much better if they said the DNA they found matched his.

Me too. There must have been a lot of her DNA mixed in the sample, and maybe a trace of his (and perhaps, another male). I'm also unsure that it was found "under her fingernails" as has been reported. This popped up the other day with the reporter quoting from the probable cause statement:

Police: Lindenwold man's 'demeanor' changed after co-worker's murder

(BBM) According to the probable cause statement, after DNA samples were taken from “numerous individuals,” investigators learned Saal “could not be excluded as a match” for DNA material found “in the area of the victim’s fingernails.”

Will this matter to jurors if case goes to trial? IDK. Sometimes, all it takes is that one juror who absolutely needs that conclusive DNA. He did lie to investigators though, stating that he had only seen her in passing at the office that day:

From link above ^^

When police questioned Saal on June 19, the statement says, the suspect said “he worked with the victim but had only seen her in passing on the date of her death."

I suppose defense could argue transference of his DNA onto her from the office, but there appears to be a lot of circumstantial evidence against him, and I'm hoping for even more.

Thinking that she MAY have been romantically involved with another coworker at office who was eventually eliminated as being responsible for her murder.

He may have been wearing gloves, though that did not protect him from cutting his knuckles & hand, but perhaps cut down on amount of his DNA left at the crime scene.

Leaving this here for those who may be more scientifically inclined than I:

(BBM) New Details As Co-Worker Charged In NJ Woman's Lunch-Break Murder

On Aug. 19, the lab that conducted the testing told the prosecutor's office that Saal "couldn't be excluded 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.

About Y-STR DNA:

Forensic use of Y-chromosome DNA: a general overview

The male-specific part of the human Y chromosome is widely used in forensic DNA analysis, particularly in cases where standard autosomal DNA profiling is not informative. A Y-chromosomal gene fragment is applied for inferring the biological sex of a crime scene trace donor. Haplotypes composed of Y-chromosomal short tandem repeat polymorphisms (Y-STRs) are used to characterise paternal lineages of unknown male trace donors, especially suitable when males and females have contributed to the same trace, such as in sexual assault cases. Y-STR haplotyping applied in crime scene investigation can (i) exclude male suspects from involvement in crime, (ii) identify the paternal lineage of male perpetrators, (iii) highlight multiple male contributors to a trace, and (iv) provide investigative leads for finding unknown male perpetrators.

 

[MissyMom]

does he have more than one phone?

I was thinking this.

 

[MissyMom]

I'm concerned about the way they are characterizing the DNA evidence as "cannot be excluded" because I don't think I've ever heard it said that way. I'd feel much better if they said the DNA they found matched his.

My understanding is that there are four categories and not excluded is the second category. It isn’t an exact match but it’s not inconclusive either.

 

[MissyMom]

I agree. I keep trying to temper my own personal feelings on this and think logically about this. If the police took DNA from several people obviously KS was one of them and that might have prompted him to hire an attorney and start asking about being convicted for circumstantial evidence. Prior to his arrest I did research on the agency they work for and it seems like a lot of people have been unhappy there. He could have potentially been on a job interview which is why he lied about a mechanic to his boss. But that doesn't explain the cuts on his hands. I really want to see the case that both the Defense and Prosecution bring to the table to get a better idea of what actually happened. There's still so much that we don't know.

I can understand why he would lie to his boss about a job interview, but if you were being questioned by the police about a murder, I think most people would tell the police I was on a job interview. Saal would not tell or account for his whereabouts when questioned by the police.

 

[Elliot_Alderson]

I'm honestly not worried about any type of trial/guilty verdict being in jeopardy because the DNA is being described as "not able to exclude him". For all we know there could be a good amount of other evidence that pretty much seals his fate. JMO.

 

[GraceRose]

I can understand why he would lie to his boss about a job interview, but if you were being questioned by the police about a murder, I think most people would tell the police I was on a job interview. Saal would not tell or account for his whereabouts when questioned by the police.

Agreed and if he was on a job interview or anyplace else other than the site of the murder, he would have an alibi

 

[zecats]

Agreed and if he was on a job interview or anyplace else other than the site of the murder, he would have an alibi

And a legit alibi would have prevented his arrest. So, I say - no alibi. JMO

 

[Seattle1]

I'm concerned about the way they are characterizing the DNA evidence as "cannot be excluded" because I don't think I've ever heard it said that way. I'd feel much better if they said the DNA they found matched his.

The criminal complaint cites DNA from beneath CB's fingernails as that which cannot be excluded. However, earlier report (Aug 10, 2019) by County Prosecutor Andrew Carey states there was more DNA collected from articles that takes time to analyze:

"For the available technology that we have it's been a little frustrating. We also have our DNA person at the Union County lab who is continuing to examine articles. It takes a lot of time," he said.

Plainsboro homicide: Leads still sought in Carolyn Byington's death

 

[Kittybunny]

For men, I think job loss or threat of job loss is often a factor. I usually think that with older men perps, who are established and/or would have hard time starting over and facing the social stigma of losing financial status.

This perp is on the young side for that, but he is also a new dad, which comes with increased financial responsibility. I keep getting the vibe this murder was for professional rather than personal reasons - something she did (or that he thought she did) jeopardized his job, imo.

Maybe she complained about his work or professionalism on the job (harassment, maybe?).

jmo at the moment, subject to change as we learn more.

Right there with you. This is where I'm at.

I think his multiple traffic citations speak to an utter disregard of rules/authority. Although some (including me) suggested her discovery of embezzlement on his part, now that we know a bit more I don't think it even needs to rise to that level. It could have been as simple as him not following company policies repeatedly, failing to meet his obligations in general or perhaps if he was assigned to support Carolyn's projects - ie., such as invoicing clients and collecting payments, whatever, and she told him to straighten up or else she would go to his manager, or perhaps she already did. Their work computers and emails, or even just hers, would definitely capture some of this.

 

[cherrymeg]

The criminal complaint cites DNA from beneath CB's fingernails as that which cannot be excluded. However, earlier report (Aug 10, 2019) by County Prosecutor Andrew Carey states there was more DNA collected from articles that takes time to analyze:

"For the available technology that we have it's been a little frustrating. We also have our DNA person at the Union County lab who is continuing to examine articles. It takes a lot of time," he said.

Plainsboro homicide: Leads still sought in Carolyn Byington's death

Does saying "cannot be excluded" a way of preventing a lawsuit if it turns out there was a legit reason for his DNA to be found under her fingernails. Or on the off chance there was a mistake. I doubt these things. I remember hearing that saying DNA is a perfect match or saying with "scientific certainty" it is a match isn't quite as simple or accurate as crime shows would have us believe. Unless most of the population can't be ruled out, it says a lot that Saal a coworker can't be. It might be a more honest way of saying it's likely his DNA unless he has a brother that would want to kill her.

 

[MissyMom]

I took this from a criminal defense attorney. “As the language itself suggests, “cannot be excluded as a possible contributor” is not necessarily as powerful as “match”. The phrase “cannot be excluded as a possible contributor” does not, however, mean “inconclusive”. (In fact, “inconclusive” is a separate possible result.) “