A New Jersey man’s theft of $85,000 from his brother to lease luxury cars for his mistress ignited a family feud that prosecutors claim ended with four brutal murders and two house fires in a single morning.
Story Highlights
- Paul Caneiro allegedly murdered his brother Keith, sister-in-law Jennifer, and their two young children after being caught stealing $85K for luxury car leases
- The quadruple homicide occurred on November 20, 2018, followed by arson at the family mansion and Caneiro’s own home
- Prosecutors describe the killings as motivated by financial desperation and a crumbling family business partnership
- Trial began January 2026 after years of delays, with Caneiro facing life in prison if convicted
The Morning Everything Unraveled
November 20, 2018, began with a house fire at Paul Caneiro’s Ocean Township home around 5:01 AM. All occupants escaped unharmed. Hours later, a massive blaze consumed his brother Keith’s Colts Neck mansion, revealing a horrific scene inside. Keith Caneiro lay dead from five gunshot wounds, four to the head. His wife Jennifer and their children Jesse, 11, and Sophia, 8, had been killed in what prosecutors describe as homicidal violence before the arson began.
The dual fires initially suggested a coordinated attack on the Caneiro family. However, investigators soon focused on Paul Caneiro himself, arresting him the following day on arson charges for burning his own home. Within days, murder charges followed as the financial motive emerged.
Money, Mistresses, and Family Business Betrayal
The brothers had operated joint businesses together, but their partnership soured over missing funds and disputes about a $3 million insurance policy. Prosecutors allege Paul systematically stole approximately $85,000 from their shared enterprises, using the money to lease expensive vehicles including cars for his mistress. When Keith discovered the theft, he moved to cut Paul off from the business operations.
An accountant spoke with Keith the night before the murders about these financial discrepancies. The timing proved fatally significant. Prosecutors paint Paul as a desperate man whose “house of cards” was collapsing, leading him to eliminate the brother who threatened to expose his crimes. Defense attorneys counter by pointing to the brothers’ sibling Cory, claiming his finances were “even worse” and that investigators ignored him as a potential suspect.
Trial Reveals Gruesome Details
After years of delays due to COVID-19 and legal challenges over DNA evidence admissibility, Paul Caneiro’s trial finally began in January 2026 in Freehold, New Jersey. Opening statements revealed shocking details about the violence inflicted on the family. Prosecutors told jurors that eight-year-old Sophia was stabbed 17 times despite weighing only 45 pounds.
Prosecutor Nicole Wallace described how the “defendant hunted them down” in their own home, driven by financial desperation and rage over being discovered. Paul Caneiro appeared emotional during the proceedings, occasionally wiping tears as graphic details emerged. His defense team maintains his innocence, arguing that he loved Keith’s family and would never have harmed them.
Sources:
2018 Colts Neck mansion killings – Wikipedia
Trial begins for man accused of murdering brother, wife, kids in Colts Neck, New Jersey – ABC7NY
