NJ Man Accused Of Killing Brother’s Family, Torching Mansion, Stands Trial

COLTS NECK, NJ — Jury selection has officially begun in the case of Paul Caneiro, the man accused of killing his brother and his brother’s family before setting their home on fire in 2018.

Caneiro, 58, of Ocean Township, was awaiting trial in his case for over seven years before it officially began on Monday with the start of jury selection, a spokesperson for the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office confirmed to Patch.

While the jury selection process is expected to take several days, Judge Marc C. Lemieux told prospective jurors that the trial is scheduled to run through March 20, according to a report from NJ Advance Media.

Caneiro’s trial begins following various delays over the years, including rulings on the use of evidence in his case.

In December, the NJ Supreme Court ruled that a DVR home-security surveillance system taken without a search warrant from Caneiro’s garage could be used in the case, the Asbury Park Press reported.

According to the report, the high court said police acted reasonably in taking the security surveillance system without first getting a search warrant because the home was on fire at the time.

The court’s ruling means that prosecutors can introduce evidence from the security system at Caneiro’s trial, where he’s accused of killing his brother, his brother’s wife and their two children.

On Nov. 20, 2018, Caneiro’s brother (Keith), Keith's wife (Jennifer), and their two children were found dead at Keith’s home in Colts Neck after a fire broke out at their house. Once authorities arrived at the scene, they found that Keith Caneiro had been shot to death.

The fire at Keith Caneiro’s home was discovered a few hours after two fires were started at Paul Caneiro’s home in Ocean Township. Paul Caneiro, his wife (Susan), and their two daughters all escaped uninjured from the fire.

A day after the fire at Keith Caneiro’s home, Paul Caneiro was taken into custody by the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office and accused of setting his own home on fire.

He would later be charged with four counts of first-degree murder and two counts of first-degree felony murder, amongst other charges, in connection with the deaths of his brother and his brother’s family.

If Caneiro is found guilty during his trial, he could face life in prison, as each murder charge against him carries a maximum sentence of life imprisonment without parole.

In addition, felony murder carries a maximum sentence of life imprisonment, subject to the “No Early Release Act.”

Previous Coverage

• Judge Rules On Caneiro Release In Colts Neck Slayings, Trial Date Set
• DNA Evidence Hearing In Colts Neck Family Murders Case Begins: Report
• Trial Date For Colts Neck Family Murders Case To Be Set In November
• The Colts Neck Quadruple Murder: A Timeline Of Events
• Colts Neck Fire Was Quadruple Homicide, Family 'Targeted:' MCPO
• Brother's Lawyer In Colts Neck Murders: 'He's Devastated'
• 20 Stunning New Allegations In Colts Neck Caneiro Murder Case