Colts Neck NJ Family Found Dead After Suspicious Mansion Fire Firefighters

Nov. 21 -- The mystery hanging over a set of fires at separate homes owned by two brothers in New Jersey took a turn for the bizarre when one of the them was arrested for arson on Wednesday.

A couple and their two children were found dead Tuesday afternoon in a suspected quadruple homicide following a massive blaze at their Colts Neck mansion, according to Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher Gramiccioni.

"We in law enforcement know Colts Neck to be a quiet, safe, tight-knit community," he told reporters during a press conference Wednesday afternoon.

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"This is one of the most heinous cases that we have ever investigated, that we have ever seen."

Earlier Tuesday, firefighter's battled another blaze just after dawn at a home belonging to the brother of one of the victims. Authorities have declined to speculate on whether the incidents are connected, only saying that law enforcement were investigating a possible link.

Here's what we know so far:

First fire breaks out

Firefighters responded to reports of a house fire on Tilton Drive in Ocean Township around 5:20 a.m Tuesday morning. Paul Caneiro and his wife Susan were able to escape their burning residence along with their two daughters, police said.

No injuries were reported in the early morning blaze.

A neighbor, who did not wish to be identified told NJ Advance Media that Paul Caneiro was left rattled by the incident and visibly distraught in wake of the fire.

"He said it must've been a gas leak, he had tears in his eyes. Susan was devastated," the neighbor said. "He said, 'I'm in complete shock I can't believe this is happening to me.'"

Second Fire

Hours later, another fire broke out at a mansion on Willow Brook Road in Colts Neck, an affluent community that's home to celebrities like Bruce Springsteen and Jon Bon Jovi.

Firefighters responded to the blaze around 1:30 p.m. and continued to battle back the flames well into the early evening. Video from the scene sees smoke pouring from the roof of the two-story home, which is surrounded by fields and a large swimming pool.

The smell of charred buildings and smoke still hung in the air more than 24 hours later, neighbors said.

Property records show the 5,784-square-foot home is owned by Paul Caneiro's brother Keith. He lived at the $1.5 million mansion, located just 10 miles away from where the first fire occurred, with his 45-year-old wife, Jennifer, and their family

Victims found

The bodies of Jennifer Caneiro and her two children, 11-year-old Jesse and 8-year-old Sophia, were discovered inside the Colts Neck mansion while first responders found Keith Caneiro dead from a gunshot wound on the home's front lawn.

The victims found inside the home were "burned severely" and a cause of death for all of the family members is pending.

Officials said Keith Caneiro's gunshot wound was not self-inflicted, adding that authorities are not investigating any suicide angle.

"We believe that in some form or fashion that this family was targeted," Gramiccioni said late Wednesday afternoon.

It's not clear whether the alleged homicides were committed before the initial blaze in Ocean Twp. The state prosecutor said while the scene has been contained it has not yet "been rendered safe for forensic investigators," who are just waiting for the "all clear."

Investigation begins

Gramiccioni during a press conference Tuesday evening confirmed the afternoon mansion fire was being investigated as arson, but did not provide any other information. He said authorities are investigating all angles in the case, including whether or not the pair of fires have any connection to each other.

Authorities are additionally "operating under the presumption that all these are victims of homicidal violence prior to the fire," Gramiccioni said, confirming a murder investigation is underway.

Brother charged

Paul Caneiro was arrested without incident in connection with the suspicious fire at his own home in Ocean Twp., the prosecutor's office announced Wednesday. He allegedly doused parts of his home in gasoline, ignited it and then allowed for the fire to spread, according to an arrest report cited by NJ Patch.

The 51-year-old suspect was charged with one count of second degree aggravated arson and is being held at the Monmouth County jail.

Authorities have not named Paul Caneiro as a suspect in the suspected homicides. It's not clear where he was when the blaze at his brother's mansion began.

His initial court date is set for next Wednesday.

With News Wire Services.