Paul Caneiro Sentenced for 2018 Murders of His Brother and Family in Colts Neck, New Jersey
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At approximately 5:30am on November 20, 2018, firefighters responded to a fire at a house in Ocean Township, New Jersey. The residence belonged to Paul Caneiro, who lived there with his wife and two daughters. The family was able to escape the residence unharmed and it was initially speculated that the fire was the result of an arson attack.
Seven and a half hours later, another fire was started in Colts Neck, an affluent township in New Jersey. Keith Caneiro, 50, Jennifer Caneiro, 45, and their children, Jesse, 11, and Sophia, 8, were found dead at their mansion home. The fire, which was later confirmed to have been deliberately started, was still blazing when first responders arrived at the scene.
Autopsies later revealed that Keith had died from multiple gunshot wounds, Jennifer had died from a gunshot wound and stab wounds, and both children had suffered multiple stab wounds. The children also had signs of smoke inhalation, indicating they were alive when the fire was started.
At first, it was speculated that the family died in a tragic fire accident, however investigators determined that the deaths were homicides and that the fire had been deliberately started.
It was also revealed that Paul Caneiro and Kevin Caneiro were brothers. They worked alongside each other as partners at a technology firm called Square One, located in Asbury Park . According to WRAL News, Keith Caneiro ran Square One, while Paul mainly ran their other business, an exterminating company called Eco Star Pest Management.
Initially, Paul Caneiro was arrested and charged with aggravated arson in connection with the fire that broke out at his own property. He was arrested on November 21, 2018. After further investigation, he was charged with the murder of Keith Caneiro, as well as his wife and children on November 29, 2018.
Prosecutors later alleged that $75,000 had disappeared from the brothers’ shared fund, sparking an argument between Keith and Paul. Prosecutors also argued that a life insurance policy provided a possible financial motive for the murders, and that if Keith, his wife and their children were out of the picture, Paul could benefit financially.
An affidavit unsealed in February 2019 revealed that funds from the Caneiro brothers’ business had gone missing without explanation and that, as a result, Paul Caneiro was being “cut off”. The affidavit described disputes over money and described Keith as being concerned about the amount of spending Paul was doing from their business accounts.
Due to several disputes about evidence and delays due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the case was delayed for several years. One pivotal piece of evidence, a surveillance DVR rescued from the home by police during the fire, was challenged as admissible by the defense, who argued that it was removed from the home without a warrant. It was later determined by the New Jersey Supreme Court that police had reasonably obtained the evidence, taking into account the circumstances, and that the evidence would otherwise have been destroyed. The footage from the surveillance DVR was then allowed to be shown at trial. Investigators would later determine that the system had been disabled at the time of the murders.
The trial started in January 2026, by which point prosecutors were armed with the surveillance footage, financial records and forensic evidence that tracked Paul Caneiro’s whereabouts on the day of the murders. Prosecutors presented evidence that his vehicle left his Ocean Township home during the early morning hours and later returned.
The defense argued that the prosecution was looking in the wrong direction for a conviction. They suggested that another of the Caneiro siblings, Corey Caneiro, was a more likely suspect and that he too could have been motivated by money. The defense specifically argued that Corey could have had a financial motive involving Keith’s life insurance or trust.
On February 13, 2026, Paul Caneiro was found guilty of four counts of first-degree murder. He was also convicted of two counts of first-degree felony murder, aggravated arson, weapons offenses, theft, misapplication of entrusted property and hindering apprehension, among additional other charges.
The jury found that Paul had murdered his brother and his brother's family and attempted to hide the evidence by setting fires at both homes.
On May 19, 2026, Caneiro was sentenced to four consecutive life sentences without the possibility of parole plus an additional 16 years for related offenses.
Caneiro continues to deny the crimes.
Jennifer Caneiro's sister, Bonnie Karidis, described the Caneiro family as a beautiful family who did everything together, were a big part of the community, and “brought so much joy to everyone.” Jennifer’s mother described Paul Caneiro as an “evil soul” who dragged out the legal process and would not admit to what he had done.
Raymond Santiago, Monmouth County prosecutor, said: “The sentence demonstrates that a person who is driven by greed and depression, jealousy and viciousness, gets exactly what he deserves.”
Listen to the episode covering the case: The Caneiro Family Murders - The Generation Why Podcast available now.
