The 2018 Colts Neck mansion killings and arson took place on November 20, 2018, at a mansion home in
Colts Neck Township, New Jersey
Colts Neck Township is a township in Monmouth County, New Jersey, United States. It is located in the New York Metropolitan Area. As of the 2020 United States Census, the population was 9,957, down from the 10,142 counted in the 2010 census, ...
. The four victims were identified by authorities as Keith Caneiro, Jennifer Caneiro, and their two children, Jesse, 11, and Sophia, 8. Firefighters from fire departments all over Monmouth County responded to the massive fire that was lit after the killings.
Earlier in the day, firefighters responded to another fire at the house of Paul Caneiro, Keith's brother, in
Ocean Township, New Jersey. Emergency personnel responded to this fire at approximately 5:01 am.
Killings
Keith Caneiro's body was found outside of the house with four gunshot wounds to the head and one to the torso. Jennifer's, Jesse's, and Sophia's bodies were found inside the house. Authorities believe that their bodies suffered homicidal violence before they were burned by the fire.
Alleged charges
Police took Paul Caneiro into custody on November 21, 2018, without incident. He was charged with one count of aggravated
arson
Arson is the crime of willfully and deliberately setting fire to or charring property. Although the act of arson typically involves buildings, the term can also refer to the intentional burning of other things, such as motor vehicles, wat ...
on his own home while family members were inside. Authorities have stated that all four people living in Paul's house were able to escape the fire. His initial detention hearing was scheduled for November 28, 2018.
On November 29, 2018, authorities announced that seven more charges had been filed against Paul Caneiro. Caneiro was charged with four counts of first-degree
murder, one count of aggravated
arson
Arson is the crime of willfully and deliberately setting fire to or charring property. Although the act of arson typically involves buildings, the term can also refer to the intentional burning of other things, such as motor vehicles, wat ...
, one count of possession of a firearm for an unlawful purpose, and one count of possession of a knife for an unlawful purpose, all in connection with the Colts Neck incident. Authorities also announced that his detention hearing for the first aggravated
arson
Arson is the crime of willfully and deliberately setting fire to or charring property. Although the act of arson typically involves buildings, the term can also refer to the intentional burning of other things, such as motor vehicles, wat ...
charge had been postponed until November 30, 2018. In addition, a detention hearing for the new charges was scheduled for December 4, 2018.
In July 2019, charges of insurance fraud were levied.
Defense
Caneiro pleaded not guilty at his brief court appearance for the initial aggravated
arson
Arson is the crime of willfully and deliberately setting fire to or charring property. Although the act of arson typically involves buildings, the term can also refer to the intentional burning of other things, such as motor vehicles, wat ...
charge on November 30, 2018.
According an affidavit unsealed Monday, February 25, 2019, Paul Caneiro was being cut-off financially from a joint business after funds had gone missing.
In March, attorneys representing Caneiro withdrew from the case after finding what they described as conflicts of interest. He is being represented by a public defender. Hearings on the admissibility of DNA evidence are pending.
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Colts Neck mansion killings
2018 crimes in New Jersey
Arson in New Jersey
Colts Neck Township, New Jersey
Familicides
Mass murder in 2018
November 2018 crimes in the United States
November 2018 events in the United States