Paul Caneiro, 59, faces life without parole as a Monmouth County jury hears opening statements in the quadruple slaying that claimed his brother, sister-in-law and their two children.
At a Glance
- Paul Caneiro’s trial started Monday, Jan. 12, more than seven years after the 2018 Colts Neck murders
- Prosecutors say he stabbed his 45-pound niece 17 times and shot or stabbed the other three victims
- Two Colts Neck and Ocean Township homes were set on fire the same day to fake a family-wide attack
- Defense blames tunnel-vision investigation, pointing to a second brother who could gain a $3 million life-insurance payout
Why it matters: A conviction on the dozen-plus counts, including four murder charges, would end a case that has been delayed by COVID and legal fights over evidence.
Prosecution: Money and Jealousy Fueled Rampage
Assistant Prosecutor Nicole Wallace told jurors that financial motives drove Caneiro to kill his younger brother and business partner, Keith Caneiro, 50, Keith’s wife, and their two young children inside the couple’s Colts Neck mansion in November 2018.
Wallace detailed the brutality:
- Keith died from multiple gunshot and stab wounds
- The couple’s daughter, Sophia, was stabbed 17 times across her 45-pound body
- A son also suffered fatal wounds
Immediately after the killings, prosecutors say, Caneiro torched his brother’s $1.65 million estate and, hours later, set his own Ocean Township house ablaze in an attempt to make the crimes look like a broader assault on the family.
Defense: Caneiro Loved His Family, Didn’t Set Fires
Defense attorney Monika Mastellone countered that her client “did not set any house on fire” and “certainly did not brutally murder the family members that, you will hear, he loved and cherished and adored so much.”
She urged jurors to focus on what investigators failed to do:
- Ignore other potential suspects, including another brother who stood to collect Keith’s $3 million life-insurance policy
- Zero in on Caneiro early and then search only for evidence that fit their theory
Mastellone said authorities never pursued leads that might have pointed away from Caneiro, leaving reasonable doubt about his guilt.
Witnesses and Timeline
The state’s first witness, an accountant, testified that he spoke with Keith Caneiro the night before the murders and detected no signs of trouble.
Additional testimony is expected to last well into March, with prosecutors planning to call:
- Crime-scene technicians
- Fire investigators
- Financial analysts
Caneiro, who has remained in custody since 2018, was charged with:
- Four counts of murder
- Aggravated arson (two counts)
- Weapons and theft offenses
If convicted on the murder counts alone, he faces life in prison without parole.
Years of Delays
The path to trial was slowed by:
- COVID-19 court shutdowns
- Defense motions challenging evidence collection
- Prosecution requests for additional forensic testing
Jury selection began in late 2024, seating 12 jurors and six alternates after a month-long process.
Key Takeaways
- Motive in dispute: State says money; defense says rush to judgment
- Physical evidence includes fire patterns, DNA on a knife, and gunshot residue tests
- Insurance payout to another sibling is a central defense theme
- Verdict expected by spring; life without parole is the maximum penalty
