NJ - Multiple Deaths in Mansion Fire, Monmouth County, Colts Neck, 20 Nov 2018 *Arrest* #2

[Niner]

Ah! got an article in my alerts!

https://eu.app.com/story/news/local/courts/2025/11/04/nj-high-court-hears-arguments-on-caneiro-evidence-seized-during-fire/86990940007/

Nov. 4, 2025

Story Summary

• The New Jersey Supreme Court is deciding whether to allow a home-security DVR as evidence in Paul Caneiro's quadruple murder trial.
• Prosecutors argue the DVR was seized without a warrant due to the immediate threat of a fire at Caneiro's home.
• Defense attorneys contend the seizure was illegal because the fire was contained and did not threaten the garage where the device was located.

TRENTON -- As they heard arguments Nov. 3 on whether to admit a key piece of evidence against Paul Caneiro at his upcoming trial in the murders of four family members, state Supreme Court justices seemed focused on whether the item was threatened by a fire at the defendant's Ocean Township house before police seized it without a warrant.
[.....]
At a pretrial hearing earlier this year, Ocean Township police Sgt. Jeffrey Malone testified he ordered officers to seize the DVR without a warrant because he believed it could contain evidence of the cause and origin of the fire and who started it.

Superior Court Judge Marc C. Lemiuex, Monmouth County's assignment judge who will preside over Caneiro's trial next year, ruled that the evidence derived from the security system is inadmissible because police took the DVR without a warrant. An appellate panel upheld Lemiuex's decision, leading to the prosecution's appeal before the state's high court.
[.....]
At the end of the hearing, Rabner asked do Outeiro when jury selection for Caneiro's trial is scheduled to begin, to which she responded Jan. 5.

That question indicated the possibility that the court may rule on the appeal before then, clearing the way for the trial to finally get underway.

 

[Niner]

Just to keep my notes straight...

Monday, Nov. 3rd:
*Oral Arguments Hearing (NJ Supreme Court) (@ am ET) – NJ – Keith Martin Caneiro (50), his wife Jennifer Karidis Caneiro (45) & 2 children Jesse (11) & Sophia (8) (Nov. 20, 2018, Colt’s Neck; died prior to fire @ home) – *Paul Jay Caneiro (51/now 57) (bro) arrested (11/20/18), charged (11/29/18), indicted (2/25/19) & arraigned (3/18/19) on 4 counts of murder, 2 counts of felony murder, 2 counts of aggravated arson, possession of a firearm for an unlawful purpose, possession of a knife for an unlawful purpose, unlawful possession of a firearm, unlawful possession of a knife, theft, misapplication of entrusted property & 2 counts of hindering apprehension. Plead not guilty. Held without bond. Monmouth County
*Indicted (7/1/19) & arraigned (3/18/19) with 2nd degree insurance fraud (from 11/6/12 to 7/9/19). Plead not guilty.
Previously charge with 2 counts of 2nd degree aggravated arson (in connection to fire set @ his Ocean Township home on the same day before fire in Colt’s Neck) & with 4 counts of murder, with possession of a firearm & possession of a weapon for unlawful purpose. Plead not guilty. Held without bond. Paul Caneiro allegedly stole $78K from Keith & Jennifer Caneiro. He stole the money sometime between January 2017 & the day of the murders.
Jury selection set to begin on 9/8/25 has been delayed until 1/5/26. @ 8:45a There will be 12 jurors & 4 alternates.
Trial was set to begin on 9/8/25 after jury selection was delayed. (should take about 4 weeks)
Superior Court Judge Joseph W. Oxley, presiding. Monmouth County Prosecutor Deputy First assistant Christopher Decker & Assistant Monmouth County prosecutor Nicole Wallace. Deputy Public Defender Tamar Lerer, Public defender’s office attorneys W. Michael Wicke, Victoria Howard & Monika Mastellone.
Court info from 11/28/18 thru 9/19/25 reference post #78 here:
https://websleuths.com/threads/nj-m...colts-neck-20-nov-2018-arrest-2.740776/page-4
10/10/25 Update: In the coming weeks, summonses will be mailed to 8,000 Monmouth County residents, who will be whittled down to a panel of 16 to sit in judgment of Caneiro when he is tried next year in the murders of four family members. At a court conference on 10/10/25, Superior Court Judge Marc C. Lemieux said jury summonses will go out in the mail Oct. 23 to 5,000 residents, requesting their appearance at the Monmouth County Courthouse the week of Jan. 5, when jury selection for Caneiro's trial is scheduled to begin. Another 3,000 summonses will be mailed on Oct. 30 requesting more potential jurors to report during the second week of jury selection, Lemieux said. The trial was scheduled to start last month, until the state Supreme Court agreed to hear an appeal by prosecutors regarding evidence that Lemieux ordered suppressed. That evidence consists of a security system at the defendant's home that showed Paul Caneiro walking up to it at 1:29am when the camera shut off. Prosecutors have alleged the defendant disabled the camera to mask his departure from home in the early hours to drive to his brother's home & commit the murders. Lemieux suppressed the evidence because investigators did not obtain a warrant to take it. The state's high court is expected to hear arguments on the appeal in early November.
11/3/25 Update: The New Jersey Supreme Court heard arguments 11/3/25 on whether to admit a key piece of evidence against Caneiro at his upcoming trial in the murders of four family members, state Supreme Court justices seemed focused on whether the item was threatened by a fire at the defendant's Ocean Township house before police seized it without a warrant. Prosecutors argue the DVR was seized without a warrant due to the immediate threat of a fire at Caneiro's home. Defense attorneys contend the seizure was illegal because the fire was contained & did not threaten the garage where the device was located. At the end of the hearing, Judge Rabner asked do Outeiro when jury selection for Caneiro's trial is scheduled to begin, to which she responded Jan. 5. That question indicated the possibility that the court may rule on the appeal before then, clearing the way for the trial to finally get underway.

 

[Niner]

Anyone finding anything in the U.S. for this case? I tried... nothing since the last article about the N.J. Supreme court to hear the oral arguments on 11/3/25. I guess no decision for a while.... ??

Still have jury selection starting 1/5/26.

 

[Seattle1]

Anyone finding anything in the U.S. for this case? I tried... nothing since the last article about the N.J. Supreme court to hear the oral arguments on 11/3/25. I guess no decision for a while.... ??

Still have jury selection starting 1/5/26.

State v. Paul Caneiro​

A pretrial conference is scheduled for Dec. 5 at 10 a.m. before Superior Court Assignment Judge Marc Lemieux, Monmouth County Courthouse, 71 Monument Street, Freehold. The matter also will be livestreamed.

Jury selection is scheduled to begin in State v Paul Caneiro on Jan. 5, 2026, at 8:45 a.m. before Superior Court Assignment Judge Marc Lemieux, Monmouth County Courthouse, 71 Monument St., Freehold.

Notable Cases - Overview | NJ Courts

Overview of significant legal cases involving state law, public interest, and legal procedures, including DWI plea agreements, forensic lab issues, and fair housing disputes.

www.njcourts.gov

 

[Niner]

State v. Paul Caneiro​

A pretrial conference is scheduled for Dec. 5 at 10 a.m. before Superior Court Assignment Judge Marc Lemieux, Monmouth County Courthouse, 71 Monument Street, Freehold. The matter also will be livestreamed.

Jury selection is scheduled to begin in State v Paul Caneiro on Jan. 5, 2026, at 8:45 a.m. before Superior Court Assignment Judge Marc Lemieux, Monmouth County Courthouse, 71 Monument St., Freehold.

Notable Cases - Overview | NJ Courts

Overview of significant legal cases involving state law, public interest, and legal procedures, including DWI plea agreements, forensic lab issues, and fair housing disputes.

www.njcourts.gov

Thanks!!