Man Allegedly Killed Brother And His Family Before Setting Their Mansion On Fire To Cover Up The Crime

A New Jersey man is accused of murdering his own brother and his brother’s wife and kids just days before Thanksgiving and then setting their mansion ablaze in an attempt to cover up the killings before going to his own home and trying to set that on fire.

Paul Caneiro, 51, has been charged with four counts of murder in the deaths of brother Keith Caneiro, 50, his wife Jennifer, 45 and their two children, an 8-year-old named Sophia and an 11-year-old named Jesse. Keith Caneiro was found shot to death on the lawn of his Colts Neck home and his wife and kids were found dead - shot, stabbed or both - inside the house, which burned to the ground two days before Thanksgiving. Police said all four were murdered before the fire.

That very same day Paul Caneiro was charged with setting fire to his own home in Ocean Township, 80 miles from the scene of his brother's slaying. Caneiro allegedly used gasoline to set his home on fire while his wife and two daughters were inside. No one was hurt in that blaze.

Paul Caneiro allegedly killed his brother's entire family before lighting their mansion on fire. Photo: Associated Press

Caneiro was initially charged with aggravated arson, before authorities alleged he was responsible for the murders, the Associated Press reports.

Paul and Keith Caneiro were partners at a technology firm in Asbury Park, New Jersey called Square One and police suspect that their business relationship was the catalyst for the violence.

Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher Gramiccioni said Caneiro's motive "was financial in nature," according to the Associated Press.

[Photo Credit: Ocean Township Police Department/Associated Press]