FREEHOLD — A Monmouth County jury has convicted a 59-year-old Ocean Township man in the 2018 killings of his brother, sister-in-law and their two young children in a case that stunned the Jersey Shore community days before Thanksgiving.
Paul J. Caneiro was found guilty following a monthlong trial before Superior Court Judge Marc C. Lemieux, according to Monmouth County Prosecutor Raymond S. Santiago.
Jurors returned verdicts on four counts of first-degree murder, two counts of felony murder, two counts of aggravated arson, weapons offenses, theft, misapplication of entrusted property and hindering apprehension in connection with the deaths of Keith Caneiro, 50; Jennifer Caneiro, 45; and their children, Jesse, 11, and Sophia, 8.
The victims were discovered dead on November 20, 2018, at their Colts Neck home. Authorities said the investigation involved multiple law enforcement agencies, including the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office, Colts Neck and Ocean Township police, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the New Jersey State Police, the New Jersey Regional Computer Forensics Laboratory, the Monmouth County Sheriff’s Office and the Monmouth County Fire Marshal’s Office.
Prosecutors said the convictions expose Caneiro to multiple life sentences without the possibility of parole. Sentencing is tentatively scheduled for May 12 in state Superior Court.
The case is being prosecuted by Deputy First Assistant Prosecutor Christopher J. Decker and Assistant Prosecutor Nicole Wallace. Caneiro is represented by Monika Mastellone and Andy Murray, both of Freehold Township.
For extensive coverage on the trial, be sure to read the complete trial coverage from the Asbury Park Press. Yes, they are technically a competitor, but they were in the courtroom from start to finish and we believe in showcasing true, quality community journalism. The “press release rewrite” you see above does NOT do this story justice. Thanks for your attention — Jason Allentoff, Vice President, Jersey Shore Online.
