Jury Finds Paul Caneiro Guilty On Multiple Murder, Arson, And Weapons Charges

Saturday, February 14, 2026, 7:00 A.M. ET. 3 Minute Read, By Art Fletcher: Englebrook Independent News,

COLTS NECK, NJ.- The brother of a Colts Neck man who was found dead alongside his wife and two children just days before Thanksgiving in 2018 has been convicted of their killings, Monmouth County Prosecutor Raymond S. Santiago announced Friday.

     Following a month-long jury trial before Monmouth County Superior Court Judge Marc C. Lemieux, 59-year-old Paul J. Caneiro, of Ocean Township, was found guilty on an extensive slate of charges stemming from the brutal slayings of four members of his immediate family.

     The jury convicted Caneiro on four counts of first-degree murder; two counts of first-degree felony murder; two counts of second-degree aggravated arson; one count of second-degree possession of a firearm for an unlawful purpose; one count of second-degree theft; one count of second-degree misapplication of entrusted property; one count of third-degree possession of a knife for an unlawful purpose; two counts of third-degree hindering apprehension of oneself; and one count of fourth-degree unlawful possession of a knife.

     The convictions relate to the November 20, 2018, killings of Caneiro’s brother, Keith Caneiro, 50; his sister-in-law, Jennifer Caneiro, 45; and their two children, Jesse Caneiro, 11, and Sophia Caneiro, 8.

A Case That Shocked New Jersey;

     The Caneiro family deaths stunned the Colts Neck community and drew statewide attention due to the nature of the crimes and the ages of the victims. Prosecutors argued that Paul Caneiro orchestrated and carried out the killings, which involved both gunfire and the deliberate use of fire in an attempt to conceal the crimes and mislead investigators.

     During the trial, the jury heard weeks of testimony detailing the sequence of events leading up to the murders, the evidence recovered at the scene, and Caneiro’s actions following the killings. Prosecutors contended that the defendant attempted to destroy evidence and evade law enforcement through arson and other means, ultimately leading to additional weapons, theft, and hindering charges.

     The jury’s verdict followed nearly a month of testimony, forensic evidence, and witness accounts presented by the state.

Multi-Agency Investigation;

     The investigation into the killings was led by the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office, working in coordination with the Colts Neck Police Department and the Ocean Township Police Department.

     Authorities were also assisted by a broad array of state and federal agencies, including 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.

     Prosecutor Santiago credited the extensive collaboration among agencies as instrumental in bringing the complex case to trial and securing the convictions.

Sentencing Ahead;

     Caneiro now faces the possibility of multiple life sentences without the possibility of parole in New Jersey State Prison. Sentencing is tentatively scheduled for Tuesday, May 12, 2026, according to the prosecutor’s office.

     The convictions close a lengthy chapter in one of Monmouth County’s most disturbing criminal cases, but final resolution will come at sentencing, where the court will determine the exact terms of Caneiro’s punishment.

Editor’s Note:

This article was written by Art Fletcher, Executive Editor, and all information in this report is based on official statements from the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office and evidence presented during trial proceedings.