A New Jersey man has been found guilty on all counts of killing of his brother and his brother’s family
A New Jersey man has been found guilty on all counts of killing of his brother and his brother’s family, seven years after their bodies were found in their Colts Neck home after he set fire to the home.
Paul Caneiro, 59, was found guilty on four counts of murder, two counts of aggravated arson, and two weapons counts in the 2018 killing of his brother, Keith Caneiro, 50; Keith’s wife, Jennifer, 45, and their two young children.
A Monmouth County jury handed down the verdict after deliberating Friday for about five hours.
Monmouth County prosecutors said during the two-month trial that Caneiro killed the relatives because his brother had discovered he was stealing money from their businesses and from him personally. He then set their mansion on fire – and also his own home in an attempt to cover it up, authorities said.
Caneiro’s attorney had told jurors he did not murder anyone, saying the brothers – who owned a computer systems company and a pest control business – “deeply loved each other and were best friends” and that his client would not harm his nephew and niece who he “cherished and adored.”
Emergency crews had responded to fires reported at both brothers’ homes on Nov. 20, 2018.
Paul Caneiro’s wife and children escaped safely from their home in Ocean Township.
But Keith Caneiro was found dead outside his burning Colts Neck mansion, shot numerous times. His wife and kids were found inside – Jennifer Caneiro had been stabbed and shot, while 11-year-old Jesse and 8-year-old Sophia were both stabbed.
Prosecutors told jurors that Paul Caneiro had sneaked up on his brother’s family while they slept in the middle of the night, then set both fires to make it appear the entire family was being targeted, the Asbury Park Press and NJ.com reported.
Caneiro now faces a potential life term when he’s sentenced May 12.
