Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office determined that Saal was soliciting an inmate who he believed was being released from jail in the near future to commit a murder which would exonerate Saal, for $15,000.

October 27, 2022

NORTH BRUNSWICK – PLAINSBORO, NJ (MIDDLESEX)–Middlesex County Prosecutor Yolanda Ciccone announced today that a man was charged in connection with a murder for hire plot.

In August of 2019, Kenneth Saal, 30, formerly of Lindenwold, in Camden County, was charged with murdering Carolyn Byington, 26, of Plainsboro, in her apartment when she went home for lunch. Saal was Byington’s coworker. Plainsboro Police responded to Byington’s home after they were asked by her other coworkers to do a wellness check on her. When police arrived on scene at approximately 5:57 pm, they found Byington, who was pronounced dead at the scene.

Saal was later 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. Saal is scheduled for trial in December of 2022 for the above crimes.

The Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office received a letter on or about October 13, 2022, alleging that Saal was conspiring to commit a copycat murder to create doubt about his guilt.

An investigation by Detective Walter Kelley of the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office determined that Saal was soliciting an inmate who he believed was being released from jail in the near future to commit a murder which would exonerate Saal, for $15,000.

Saal was charged with first-degree conspiracy to commit Murder, second-degree conspiracy to tamper with a witness, and second-degree conspiracy to hinder his own prosecution. Saal is being housed at the Middlesex County Adult Correctional Center and is scheduled for a detention hearing in Middlesex County Superior Court on Friday, October 28, 2022.

The investigation is active and continuing. Anyone with information is asked to call Detective Kelley of the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office at (732) 745-3330.

As is the case with all criminal defendants, the charges against Saal are merely accusations and he is presumed innocent until proven guilty.

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