FREEHOLD – A Monmouth County grand jury has returned an indictment against the brother of a Colts Neck man who was found dead along with his wife and two children just days before Thanksgiving, announced Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher J. Gramiccioni.
Officials say the indictment charges Paul J. Caneiro, 51, of Ocean Township, with one count of second degree Insurance Fraud.
Caneiro had previously been indicted on February 25, 2019, with 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 Weapon (Firearm) for an Unlawful Purpose, one count of third degree Possession of a Weapon (Knife) for an Unlawful Purpose, one count of second degree Unlawful Possession of a Weapon (Firearm), one count of fourth degree Unlawful Possession of a Weapon (Knife), one count of second degree Theft, one count of second degree Misapplication of Entrusted Property and two counts of third degree Hindering Apprehension of Oneself, in connection with the slaying of his brother Keith Caneiro, 50, his sister-in-law Jennifer Caneiro, 45, his nephew Jesse, 11, and his niece Sophia, 8, on Nov. 20, 2018.
Paul J. Caneiro’s next scheduled court appearance is set for July 29, 2019 before Judge Joseph W. Oxley. Caneiro remains detained pending trial in the Monmouth County Correctional Institution in Freehold Township.
If convicted of Insurance Fraud, Caneiro faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in state prison.
The case is assigned to Monmouth County Assistant Prosecutor Christopher J. Decker, Director of the Office’s Major Crimes Bureau and Assistant Prosecutor Nicole Wallace.
Defendant is being represented by Michael Wicke, Esq., of Freehold Township.
Despite these charges, every defendant is presumed innocent, unless and until found guilty beyond a reasonable doubt, following a trial at which the defendant has all of the trial rights guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution and State law.