Prosecutors: Colts Neck Murder Suspect Killed Brother, Sister-In-Law And 2 Kids After Business Money Went Missing
FREEHOLD, N.J. (CBSNewYork/AP) -- Prosecutors are finally revealing what they say is the motive in the murder of a family in Colts Neck.
Prosecutors say it was a massacre over money.
A New Jersey businessman accused of killing his brother and the brother's wife and two children was about to be cut off from their technology company after money allegedly went missing from the firm.
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A 16-count indictment unsealed Monday charges Paul Caneiro with murder, felony murder, aggravated arson and weapons offense. He also faces counts of theft, misapplication of entrusted property and hindering his own apprehension.
The charges stem from the deaths of Keith Caneiro; his wife, Jennifer, and their two young children. Their bodies were found after a fire broke out at their home on Nov. 20.
Prosecutors gave grisly details on the killings. They say Paul Caneiro went to his brother's house and shot him in the back and then four times in the head. His body was found on the front lawn. Keith Caneiro's wife Jennifer was shot and stabbed inside the home, and their 11-year-old sone Jesse and 8-year-old daughter were stabbed multiple times.
Prosecutors say the night before the murders, Keith Caneiro sent an email "to two business associates indicating that there was money missing from the business and that [Keith] would be discontinuing payment to [Paul's] wife until he cold locate the missing money."
Prosecutors go on to say "The office manager reported that in the past year, Keith has told her to stop payment to defendant's wife because of arguments with Paul over money."
Prosecutors say they found Paul's clothes hidden in his basement with Sophia Caneiro's blood spattered over a pair of Paul's jeans. They also claim they found arson evidence: A gas can in Paul Caneiro's driveway.
Paul Caneiro has pleaded not guilty. His attorneys have said their client loved his family, had no reason to harm them and had been "wrongly accused."
(© Copyright 2019 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)