Created: 4/2/2009 4:30:13 PM 
MIDDLEBURG, FL -- All is quiet at murder suspect Ken McBride's home in Middleburg. The shallow grave in the backyard has been filled back up. There's a new lock on the gate. Police tape is hidden in the trash can. It's been two days since Mary Barone, McBride's girlfriend, sneaked out and contacted police. The place Barone went to for help is the Kangaroo gas station, one mile from the house. READ MORE ABOUT MCBRIDE'S ARREST Rosalie Seals says she was there when Barone arrived early Tuesday morning. "I was d
Seals says Barone arrived around 4 a.m. and did not have much to say. "All she really told us was she was trying to get away from an abusive boyfriend."
Seals says Barone wanted to hide, so they sat her in the back of the store, on the floor, behind the counter.
"My other clerk told her if she'd hang out until she got off at 7 a.m., she would take her wherever she needed to go."
Seals says Barone sat in the store for three hours, until the clerk could drive her to St. Johns County, where she contacted police.
Seals says the whole time Barone was in the store she never spoke of a body being buried one mile away. "She sat on the floor reading a book. She had a paperback book."
Seals says one thing Barone did tell them was McBride would not let her out of the house. She also described how she got away. "What she told me was he had gone and picked up another dog on Monday. The dog was in the bed with him asleep. She was able to stay in the living room and that's what gave her a chance to get away."
Seals says she passed right by McBride's home Wednesday afternoon. She saw the police but did not connect Barone to the activity. "She said she walked about five miles to get here. So, I didn't put that location of the mobile home with us."
But then Seals says she saw First Coast News on Wednesday night. "They said the girl walked to a convenience store and clerk took her and boy did the ears go up. I was floored because I had no idea of what had gone on."
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