New Jersey Tech Executive Prepares for Murder Trials Amid Controversy
Paul Caneiro, a tech executive from New Jersey, has gained an early legal advantage as he approaches four murder trials. A judge has chosen to keep secret the identity of the mistress of a close female friend he allegedly showered with extravagant gifts financed by stolen funds, as revealed in court documents.
Ethel Restrepo, 51, testified in court, mentioning the luxurious vacations and high-end cars Caneiro provided her with. The judge ruled that discussing their relationship would be “prejudicial,” as stated in an order issued in August.
Caneiro’s attorneys asserted that the relationship could prompt the jury to form a moral judgment and argued that it was irrelevant since his wife was aware of it and continued to reside with him.
In 2018, Caneiro was charged with theft by his brother Keith, a business partner, after allegedly stealing funds intended for the lease of Restrepo’s Audi Q5 SUV, according to prosecutors.
Restrepo confirmed that Caneiro funded trips to her native Colombia as well as to Las Vegas, Boston, North Carolina, and New York. Court documents note that Caneiro even searched for real estate for Restrepo and her daughter in Florida and New Jersey, indicating plans to live together. Their interactions included frequent texts and visits to a shooting range in the lead-up to the murders.
Caneiro stands accused of murdering his brother Keith and his family in November 2018 at their Colts Neck mansion.
During her testimony, Restrepo revealed that she met Caneiro at a restaurant in Asbury Park and that their friendship deepened after he offered her financial support. The jury was, however, prohibited from learning that they had engaged in a sexual relationship.
Detective testimony indicated that Caneiro had paid nearly $10,000 for the Audi lease. He also covered a $2,673 rental for an apartment with Restrepo in 2017, although she mentioned returning the rent money after he paid it for her once.
While the prosecution did not directly tie Caneiro’s funding of Restrepo’s lifestyle to a motive for the alleged murders, they pointed to “greed and desperation” as potential driving factors.
Caneiro is said to have shot his brother Keith, 50, outside their family’s mansion and then proceeded to murder Keith’s wife, Jennifer, 45, along with their young children, Sophia and Jesse, before setting the residence on fire.
Prosecutors also alleged that Caneiro had spent upwards of $85,000 on high-end vehicles, including leases for three Porsches and a Jeep Wrangler, despite the financial struggles of his tech firm, Square One.
Just hours before his brother’s murder, he reportedly stole $78,000 from him, igniting a confrontation over missing funds.
In a dramatic twist, jurors were informed that Caneiro allegedly set his Ocean Township home ablaze a second time to create the illusion that he was also targeted.
Officer David Marino Jr. from the Marine Police Department testified that signs indicated the fire was intentionally set, noting details like an overturned gas can and burn marks on the garage door area.
If convicted, Caneiro could face life imprisonment without the possibility of parole. He has pleaded not guilty and has been held without bail since his arrest on November 21, 2018.
