A wealthy New Jersey family was killed before their mansion was set on fire in what authorities are investigating as a quadruple homicide.
The killer shot Keith Caneiro and set his home in Colts Neck ablaze with Caneiro’s wife, Jennifer, and their two young children inside, Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher Gramiccioni said at a news conference Wednesday.
“The case has transcended into a multiple homicide investigation in addition to the arson matter. And to date, our investigation has revealed that unfortunately, sadly, each of these individuals were the victims of homicidal violence at some point prior to when the fire was set,” Gramiccioni.
Keith Caneiro’s brother and business partner, Paul Caneiro, was arrested and taken into custody on charges stemming from another suspicious fire at his home early Tuesday. But Gramiccioni said not say if Paul Caneiro is a suspect in the killing of his brother, sister-in-law and 8-year-old niece and 11-year-old nephew.
Paul Caneiro, 51, allegedly used gasoline to ignite the blaze at his home on Tilton Avenue in Ocean Township around 5 a.m. Tuesday while his wife and two daughters were inside, according to an arrest warrant obtained by ABC News.
The warrant alleges Paul Caneiro “purposely or knowingly” set the fire at his home. His wife and children managed to escape the blaze unharmed.
Gramiccioni said agents from the FBI and Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives are working with local law enforcement to determine if the fires are connected.
The Colt Neck fire broke out about 12 p.m. Tuesday at Caneiro family’s sprawling mansion on Willow Brook Road. Keith Caneiro was found dead outside the home with gunshot wounds, Gramiccioni said. Jennifer Caneiro and the couple’s two children were found inside the home severely burned, he said. It was unclear when the family was killed.
“We believe in some fashion the family was targeted,” Gramiccioni said. “If it was random violence who presented risk to community first thing we’d do is put that info out to the public. Have no reason to believe that’s the case, think it was targeted. Can’t go further than.”
Firefighters worked late into Tuesday night to put out the fire on Willow Brook Road in Colts Neck. Fire investigators quickly discovered evidence of arson.
Paul Caneiro was booked at the Monmouth County Jail on suspicion of aggravated arson in connection with the Ocean Township fire, sheriff’s officials said.
Keith Caneiro was the founder and chief executive officer of Square One, a technology services consulting firm in Asbury Park, New Jersey.
