The brother of a man and family found dead in a New Jersey mansion fire has been charged with murder, according to court documents.
NJ.com reports that 51-year-old Paul Caneiro, initially charged with arson, has now been charged with the murder of 50-year-old Keith Caneiro, along with the murders of Keith’s family, including wife Jennifer Caneiro, 45, and the their two children. Further, the suspect was also charged with possession of a weapon for unlawful purpose and possession of a firearm.
As CrimeOnline previously reported, Caneiro was initially accused of accused of setting his Ocean Township home ablaze on Monday with his wife and daughters inside. Firefighters were quickly dispatched and contained the situation before anyone got hurt.
“His family fully supports him. … It is our firm belief that my client will be exonerated when the case is finally resolved,” Caneiro’s lawyer, Robert Honecker, said.
On the same day the suspect’s home caught on fire, his brother’s home, a $1.5 million mansion located around 10 miles away in Colts Neck, also caught on fire. No one who lived at the Colts Neck home survived.
The family, which included 50-year-old software company CEO Keith Caneiro, his wife Jennifer Caneiro, 45, and their children, 11-year-old Jesse and 8-year-old Sophia, died from “homicidal violence,” according to authorities.
Investigators said earlier this week that Keith was found outside on the lawn of the mansion with a gunshot to the back of his head. The rest of family were inside the home, severely burned with multiple stab wounds. Although, authorities haven’t yet revealed the exact causes of death, Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher Gramiccioni stated that the entire family was likely dead before the fire.
The story continues to develop. Check back with CrimeOnline as additional details become available.
[Feature Photo: Paul Caneiro (l), Keith Caneiro and family (r)/Police Handout/Facebook]
