Man Is Accused Of Murdering His Brother's Family In New Jersey

2024 Author: Steven Freeman | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 08:15

A week after firefighters from a New Jersey town discovered the four members of a family killed in the rubble of their charred mansion, police have announced that the incident and the four deaths were caused by the patriarch's brother, who he was also his "best friend".

The events occurred on November 20 in the town of Ocean Township. There, Paul Caneiro, 51, entered the mansion of his brother, Keith Caneiro, 50, to kill him with several shots. Later, he stabbed to death his wife, Jennifer Caneiro, 45, and her children Jesse, 8, and Sophia, 11.

Subsequently, the subject set fire to the mansion and then headed towards his house and also set fire to his house with his own wife and children inside.

Firefighters responded to a fire alert at the Colts Neck mansion at around 12:30 p.m. At around 5:00 a.m., they also went to put out the fire at the alleged killer's home, where fortunately there were no injuries or victims to regret.

This Thursday, Caneiro was formally charged with four counts of murder, one count of aggravated fire, illegal possession of a firearm, and illegal possession of a knife, according to county attorney Christopher Gramiccioni.

"[The motive for the crime] is financial in nature" and it appears from the brothers' business in Asbury Park, Gramiccioni said. "In my experience, this is the most brutal case I've ever seen."

The crime has raised suspicions that the motive for the murders was for financial reasons. The Caneiro brothers were business partners and had a very close relationship, and even spoke on the phone almost daily, according to lawyer Robert Honecker. Said lawyer was the one who initially defended the alleged murderer when he was arrested a week ago on charges of aggravated fire.

"My client maintains his innocence in this charge and any other potential charges," Honecker told CNN last Saturday. “His family fully supports him in defense against this charge. He expects to be fully vindicated when the case is finally resolved.”

The brothers had computer, pest control, and other businesses. Apparently, when the accused set his brother's house on fire, he also seized documents that he later burned inside his own home.

Caneiro remains in jail where he was initially taken on the aggravated fire charges and is expected to appear before a Monmouth County judge this Friday.