Four found dead in mansion arson fire
Two children and two adults were found dead at a burning mansion that officials said was intentionally set ablaze in an upmarket community near the New Jersey shore.
One of the owners of the home is a technology chief executive with a relative whose house not far away also caught fire today. Authorities said they were investigating whether there was a link.
A man was found dead outside the burning mansion in Colts Neck, and the three others were found inside, Monmouth County prosecutor Christopher Gramiccioni said at a news conference.
The three found inside were severely burned, making it difficult to identify them. No identities have been released, and a medical examiner was still investigating the manner and cause of death for all four, he said.
“It’s important to emphasise that we have no reason to believe that anyone in the community is in any danger at this time,” he said.
The fire burned at the home, surrounded by fields and featuring a large swimming pool, for hours.
Colts Neck is a well-to-do community about 80km south of New York City and is home to horse farms. Typical homes in the town of 10,000 are valued at about US$750,000 ($1.1 million).
Bruce Springsteen owns an estate there, and his son is a former member of the fire department. Former Daily Show host Jon Stewart and his wife operate an animal sanctuary there; Queen Latifah sold her mansion there in 2015.
Public records show the mansion that burned Tuesday is owned by Keith Caneiro, 50, and Jennifer Caneiro, 45.
The home has four bedrooms and five bathrooms, according to Zillow. The owners purchased the property in 1998, and the home was built in 2003, public records show.
Caneiro’s LinkedIn profile describes him as the CEO and chief technology officer for a company in the New York City area called Square One. His profile says he graduated from Columbia University with a Master of Science degree in 2018 and previously received certifications from Harvard Business School’s online platform.
There also was a fire earlier yesterday at a home in Ocean Township. That home, about 16km from Colts Neck, is owned by Paul and Susan Caneiro, and public records show the men are related, sharing at least one address in New York several decades ago. They are also “friends” on Facebook, but it is unclear how they are related. Paul Caneiro is listed as the vice-president of Square One.
When asked if the two fires were connected, Gramiccioni said: “That remains to be seen but that is an angle we continue to pursue”.